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7h^ Quest for Happ^ 




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FRENCHS STANDARD UBRARYEDITlOH 




SAMUFX FRENCH, 2S-30 West 38th St., New York 



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THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

AN AMERICAN MORALITY PLAY 



IN 



THREE ACTS AND EIGHT SCENES 



BY 

ALLAN DAVIS 



J 




Copyright, 1916, By Allan Da\t[S r 
Copyright, 1917, By Allan Davi? ^ 



ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned 
that " THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS ", being fully pro- 
tected under the copyright laws of the United States, is 
subject to a royalty, and anyone presenting the play 
without the consent of the owner or his authorized agents 
will be liable to the penalties by law provided. Applica- 
tion for amateur and professional acting rights must be 
made to Samuel French, 28-30 West 38th Street, New 
York. 



New York 
SAMUEL FRENCH 

PUBLISHER 

28-30 West 38th STREET 



O 



London 
SAMUEL FRENCH, Ltd. 
26 Southampton Street 
STRAND 



^ 






Especial notice should be taken that the posaeBsion 
of this book without a valid contract for production 
first having been obtained from the publisher, confers 
no right or license to professionals or amateurs to 
produce the play publicly or in private for gain or 
charity. 

In its present form this play is dedicated to the 
reading public only, and no performance of it may be 
given, except by special arrangement with Samuel 
French. 

SECTION 28.— That any person who wilfully or for 
profit shall infringe any copyright secured by this act, 
or who shall knowingly and wilfully aid or abet such 
infringment, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, 
and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by im- 
prisonment for not exceeding one year, or by a fine of 
not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one 
thousand dollars, or both, in the discretion of the court. 
Act of March 4, 1009. 



CI.D 483911 -, 



NOV 23 1917. 



TO 

PAUL M. PEARSON 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 



The play is in three acts and eight scenes. 
There is no scenery except a set of curtains. The 
lighting is colorful and rich ; the costumes, fanciful. 
There are seven songs. Although there are twenty- 
nine speaking parts, the play is to be acted by not 
more than twelve actors. 

SCENES 

I 

The Home of Happiness. 

H 
The Palaces of Dreams, 

HI 
The Halls of Expectation. 

IV 
The Golden Tide. 

V 
The Market Place. 

VI 
Same as Scene III. 
The Halls of Expectation. 

VII 
The Fields of Hunger. 

VIII 
Same as Scene I. 
The Home of Happiness. 



The music, composed by Gabriel Hines, for the 
songs contained in the play can be had on appHca- 
tion to Samuel French, 28-30 West 38th Street, 
New York. 

5 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

First presented by the Chautauqua Association of 
Pennsylvania at Cape Charles, Va., June 9, 1916. 



CHARACTERS 

In the order of their appearance. 

The Master of the Show 

Gossip 

The Influential Citizen 

The Mother of Happiness 

The Father of Happiness 

Strength 

Dreams 

Happiness 

Money 

Vigilance ^ 

False Hope 

Career 

Celebrity 

Good Time 

Discouragement 

Avarice 

Pride 

Forgetfulness 

Desperation 

Hunger 

Death 

Temptation 

Passion 

Intemperance 

Dishonesty 

Defeat 

True Hope 

Friendliness 

Patience 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 



Scene ; The stage is any stage on which there can 
be hung velvet curtains divided in the center, 
with a similar pair four or five feet behind 
them, and a third pair at the back of the stage, 
with space beyond them for a back drop. The 
sides of the stage may likewise be masked in 
by curtains. No other scenery is required. 

The stage directions are from the point of 
view of the actor. 

The house lights are dimmed, and the stage 
lights come up. 

The Master of the Show comes forth 
from between the frst pair of curtains. He 
is clad in a rich, dark-blue silk costume of the 
Queen Anne period — white periwig, three- 
cornered hat — bears a tall wand, and a very 
large hand-mirror. 

Master of the Show — 

I am the Master of the Show. 
You know me not? Yet he am I whose role 
Is played upon the stage of every soul: 
The mirror that I hold up to your view, 
Reflects the image not of me, but you ; 
And, therefore, who I am, you were and arc 
And will be, while dim chaos holds a star. 
I am humanity, — its deeds and dreams, 
Its flesh and soul, its marvelous extremes : 
I am the picture of your very life, 

7 



8 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Your home, your voyages, your peace, and strife, 

Your happiness dissolving into tears. 

Your youth progressing into length of years. 

Behold in me the shadow and the light, 

The anchored thought, the heaven-piercing flight, 

The one deep story of your heart of hearts, 

Unknown by all, save you, till life departs. 

Of all the splendid miracles of being, 

Of swarming marvels past all grasp and seeing, 

I show you but a sapling of a story, 

Whose leaves are touched with youth's sweet golden 

glory. 
What spring shall dawn above it, and what storms 
Among its branches break ; what shocks and harms 
Befall it; and what blossoms and what fruit 
It shall uplift in adoration mute. 
You soon shall witness. 

Lo, the stage is set: 
It is the Home of Happiness — and yet 
The girl is sad, not having her desire. 
This having said, I beg leave to retire ; 
And this last secret tell you as I go. 
That you, not I, are Master of the Show. 
{He exits) 



ACT I 

SCENE I 



THE HOME OF HAPPINESS 

As the Master of the Show retires, the first 
curtains divide, disclosing a velvet-draped room 
to the full depth of the stage. {The inter-^ 
mediate pair of curtains are of course drawn 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 9 

and out of the way.) There are a sofa, chairs, 
and a table at the left, and a grand piano at the 
right. Betzveen the divided curtains at the 
hack is caught a glimpse of harvest fields in the 
rich and mellow light of the mid-afternoon. 

From betzveen these curtains enters Gossip, 
a nervously brisk woman, gray -haired, clad in 
black. Her voice is heard before she appears. 

Gossip. {Off stage) Have you heard the news? 
— Indeed they do say — {She comes upon the stage, 
as if expecting to burst upon a group of neighbors 
with her intelligence) It's perfectly scandalous — 
(She stops, seeing nobody. Her tone changes) 
Well, there's no use telling a scandal if nobody hears 
it. — {Imparting a secret) You see my name's 
Gossip. I live in this town. Everybody knows 
Gossip, and I am. free to say Gossip knows every- 
body. What's more I know everybody's business 
and everything about everybody. What I partic- 
ularly know is every cupboard where there's a skele- 
ton. I can see right through the wood. Some- 
times I can see skeletons where there aren't any. 
That doesn't matter. If they aren't there, they 
ought to be. So it's all one, I go nosing here, 
there, and buzzing everywhere. " Have you heard 
the news ? " — " Indeed they do say that she — well, 
you know ! " — I magnify trifles. I am an artist and 
a conjurer, a mistress of fiction, a marvel of im- 
agination. You think a thing's a mole-hill — Gossip 
goes nosing around it — Gossip starts her buzzing, 
and lo ! — it becomes a mountain. That's why I'm 
so remarkable. People who envy me say I don't 
do much good, and a tremendous amount of harm. 
{Gleefully) Why do I do it? I don't know, I 
suppose it's in me, and I like it. I'm a wonderful 
person. I think that I hear somebody com- 
ing. {She goes to the back and looks off left. 



ro THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

With venom and disgust) It's Influential Citizen. 
He thinks he's more important than I, but just wait 
till I get after his skeleton. Pompous old fool, 
donkey, hypocrite, grinder of the faces of the poor, 
miser, cheat, cut-throat, whited sepulchre — (In- 
fluential Citizen — the typical small town skinflint 
enters. He zuears a frock coat, black string tie, 
black soft hat, uncreased. Gossip zuith an instant 
change speaks in her most honeyed tones) Why, 
how-do-you-do. Influential Citizen ! — Pm so glad to 
see you. 

Influential Citizen. (In a sharp tone with a 
hint of the Nezu England accent) HowdV Gossip. 
So little Miss Happiness is goin' t' leave us, eh? 
I told her father once he begin to put in this new- 
fangled furniture and pianny, no good 'd come of 
it. 

Gossip. Just what I said. 

Influential Citizen. And now the huzzy 
wants t' go to the city, does she ? To make a singer 
out of herself!! Huh! (He grunts) Well, I'll 
tell her father what I think uv him. 

Gossip. They do say that young man Dreams is 
going along with her. 

Influential Citizen. Never was no good, 
never will be. Alius up in the air. 

Gossip. And it's just breakin' the heart of 
Strength. 

Influential Citizen. Strength? Ugh! he's got 
new-fangled ideas too. Says this town needs im- 
provements. I don't see nothin' needs improvement. 
Suits me. 

Gossip. And you such a liberal, kind-hearted 
soul ! 

Influential Citizen. Well, I know what's 
ris^ht. 



*fc>* 



(Enter right, the Mother of Happiness, a charm- 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS ii 

ing low-voiced woman, simply but becomingly 
gowned.) 

Gossip. Why how do you do, Mother of Happi- 
ness. 

Mother of Happiness. Good afternoon, Gossip. 
Good afternoon, Influential Citizen. 

Influential Citizen. Dropped in t' visit with 
you, seein's how we heered your daughter was going 
away to the city. 

Mother of Happiness. We've used our best 
efforts to persuade her to remain, but she insists on 
going. I don't know what to say. Youth that 
does not reahze how hard parting is ! 

Gossip. Is it true that Dreams is going along 
with her? 

Mother of PIappiness. Yes. (Gossip ajid In- 
fluential Citizen exchange meaningful glances) 
In a way I'm glad of it. She'll at least have some- 
body from her home town with her. 

Influential Citizen. The fool boy wants to be 
an artist, don't he? I don't see nothin' in bein' an 
artist. Nor a musician neither for that matter. 
Ain't nothin' in it. Your husband ought a know 
better'n to stand for all this foolishness. 

Mother of Happiness. (Softly) You see she's 
our child. 

(Father of PIappiness enters from back, a sub- 
stantial, quiet, self-contained farmer. He nods 
to Gossip and Influential Citizen.) 

Father of Happiness. {With a brief nod) 
Howdy. 

Gossip. {Simpering) Why how do you do, 
Father of Happiness. 

Influential Citizen. Hy. 

Father of Happiness. {To Mother of Hap- 
piness) Is our daughter ready yet? 



12 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Mother of Happiness. (Painfully) She's just 
finishing packing. 

Father of Happiness. (Bitterly) In pain 
they're born. You raise them, and you sweat for 
them, and you deny yourself for them. There's 
nothing too good for them in the world. They're 
closer to you than your ow^n heartbeats. Then all of 
a sudden they go away from you without so much 
as " by your leave." That's children. 

Mother of Happiness. (Laying her hand on his 
arm) She's not really leaving us, — only going away 
for a time. 

Father of Happiness. Why doesn't she marry 
Strength, and settle down in the village as you and 
I did? 

Mother of Happiness. You and I missed much. 
Father. 

Influential Citizen. Well, you don't look 
none the worse for it. (To Father of Happiness) 
I don't agree with you about that young man 
Strength. Got too many new ideas. Wants to put 
in new plumbing and water supplies. How's he 
goin' to do it ? Raisin' taxes ? I won't stand for no 
raisin' taxes. 

Father of Happiness. Nobody knows where 
he's going in the Great Beyond. But if you happen 
to go to a certain hot place, and some friendly devil 
should propose to put in electric fans and an ice 
plant, you'd object because it would raise the taxes. 

Influential Citizen. Well, it ain't my funeral 
—yet! 

(Enter Strength from back — a quiet, serious, 
manly young man. He wears blue serge.) 

Strength. Good afternoon. (Exchange of 
greetings) I've come to say good-bye to Happi- 
ness before she goes away. (Turns to Gossip and 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 13 

Influential Citizen) I suppose you're here to 
do the same. 

Gossip. (Sugary) Why, of course, Strength. 
How could we think of letting the dear child go 
without wishing her Godspeed? 

Strength. {Humorously) And finding out all 
the facts about her going to give you food for talk, 
eh? 

Gossip. {Simpering) How you do joke. 

Strength. Where is Happiness? 

Mother of Happiness. She'll be down directly. 

Gossip. (To Strength) And she's going with 
Dreams. 

Mother of Happiness. Yes, he's to accompany 
her 

Influential Citizen. {Carpingly) Well if he's 
going he ought to be here now. 

Father of Happiness. He is — out in the garden, 
looking at the flowers ! 

Strength. {Pleasantly) Well, there's a need 
for flowers, too. 

Father of Happiness. He doesn't grow them. 
He only enjoys them. 

Strength. That is a great gift. {Enter Dreams 
from the right zvith an armful of the flowers of the 
harvest season. He is a young charming boy, zvears 
a Lord Byron collar, a large loose silk knot for his 
scarf, ztnth a silver ring; and speaks blithely) I'm 
glad to see all of you. It's so pleasant of you to 
have come to bid us good-bye. 

Influential Citizen. LIgh! What've you been 
doin'? Pickin' flowers? Nice business. 

Dreams. Aren't they wonderful ! Old care- 
worn, brown earth speaks patiently through them. 
They are her music, her color, and design. How they 
struggle from the imfolding, indomitable seed 
throuc^h the helping and the hindering soil. How 
they lift their heads mutely into the sunlight. 



14 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

How they stand as symbols of imperishable youth 
and the ever-renewing dreams of the world. 

Gossip. (Overcome) Ain't that just grand ! 

Influential Citizen. Talk don't buy no bread 
and butter. 

Strength. Some talk does. Why begrudge us 
anything that takes us away a little from the grind- 
stone and the rut and the treadmill of existence ? 

Influential Citizen. Well, young feller, when 
you've ground the grindstone and walked the rut and 
trod the treadmill's long as I have, you'll sing a dif- 
ferent tune. 

Strength. Maybe, but I hope not. 

Dreams. Where is Happiness? We must soon 
go.— 

Father of Happiness. (Calling) Happiness — 

Mother of Happiness. (In distress) She'll be 
going fast enough; don't hasten her. 

Father of Happiness. She'll miss her train — 
(He calls her again) Happiness! 

Happiness. (Off stage) Yes, father, directly. 

Mother of Happiness. She'll be here in a mo- 
ment. 

(Happiness enters, — a beautiful young girl in white 
lawn.) 

Happiness. (Brightly and cheerfully) Hello, 
everybody! (Greeting them) Gossip! Influential 
Citizen! and (Taking his hand) Strength! It's 
good of you to come to bid me good-bye. 

Gossip. (Hypocritically) It breaks my heart to 
see you go, but when you have such a wonderful 
voice, it's a shame not to cultivate it — (In an under- 
tone to Influential Citizen) She has no more 
voice than a frog. 

Influential Citizen. (To Happiness) Why 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 15 

don't you stay to home and help your mother? 
No good in singing. 

Happiness. {To him) Em sorry you think so. 

Influential Citizen. Eve always said it. I 
don't know this young generation no more with their 
improvements and their singin' and their paintin' 
and their water supply and all that kind of stuff. 
Our grand-parents before us never had them no- 
tions. Don't see no reason why we can't live on 
in the same way. 

Gossip. (Sugary) You have such a strong 
judgment. {To Happiness) He has no more judg- 
ment than a rabbit. 

Influential Citizen. (Carpingly) What's the 
use of goin' aw^ay to the city and spendin' all that 
money? Stay here and live the way you ought to. 

Happiness. (Flaming up) Not the way I ought 
to, but the way you want me — all of us to — ^in your 
narrow hard way that crushes the soul. Live here ! 
What is there here to live for? If there's one 
thought in this tovv^n that's above the mire, you'd try 
to kill it. I don't v/ant to stay here and be like you. 

Mother of Happiness. My dear, you can be 
yourself wherever you are. 

Eather of Happiness. (Bitterly) No good 
talking mother, it's the impatience and selfishness 
that have come over the young! In my day we 
didn't think of these things. We were content to 
make sacrifices if need be. 

Happiness. What good would my sacrifice be? 
You and mother don't really need my help, and I'm 
not taking anything from you. The little money that 
grandmother left me will see me through. 

Strength. (Gently) Don't you see you're leav- 
ing them quite alone? 

Happiness. (Surprised) Strength, you of all 
would not have me stay? 

Strf^ngtit. Yes, I of all. I do want you to sing. 



i6 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

I do want you to make much of yourself. I would 
encourage you to go if I felt that you were going 
rightly ; but Fm afraid that you've not going for the 
sake of your singing first and above all. You're 
going because you're impatient of this place and 
its people, going because you can have a better time 
some place else. Here is where you really belong. 
Here are little children waiting for you to help them. 
Here are young girls whose comrade you might be. 
You want to sing? Think of the hundreds of singing 
hearts there are here to whom you might give voice 
and music. 

Dreams. But think of the larger fields that vshe 
might conquer. With her voice, her soul, she can 
sing to thousands instead of to tens. 

Strength. You're not thinking of their pleasure 
and of their satisfaction, but your own. 

Happiness. The two go together. 

Strength. I've pleaded with you so often, you 
know all my arguments. 

Happiness. Need you repeat them? 

Strength. (Regretfully) I suppose not. 

Influential Citizen. Well, stayin' here don't 
do no good. Good-bye Happiness. Hope you come 
to your senses pretty soon. Comin' Gossip? 

Gossip. D'rectly, d'rectly. (To Mother of 
Happiness in a whisper) You know they do say 
about Influential Citizen that there's a black bottle 
back of the screen in the drug store he takes a nip 
at regular, the old hypocrite, and as for women — 
(She puts her hands up) 

Influential Citizen. (Calling her) Gossip! 

Gossip. Yes ! Well, I must be going. Good-bye, 
good-bye Happiness, I hope you will be a very 
wonderful success. Good-bye, Dreams, take good 
care of her. (She joins Influential Citizen up- 
stage — sarcastically) Ugh! Dreams take care of 
Happiness ! You and I know how he'll take care of 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 17 

her. You know they do say — {Buzzing she goes off 
stage with Influential Citizen) 

Mother of Happiness. Til get your things 
ready, Happiness. 

Father of Happiness. Til see the team's 
hitched. 

(The Mother and the Father of Happiness go 
off left of stage. The light of the afternoon 
deepens gradually from this point on, becom- 
ing more mellow and golden moment by mo- 
ment.) 

Dreams. (To Happiness) You'll want to say 
a few words to Strength. Til come back for you. 
(Humming he goes off at the back) 

Strength. (To Happiness) So you're really 
going away. I can scarcely believe it. 

Happiness. Yes, dear Strength, I must. I'm 
strangling here. Oh, it's all so frightfully narrow, 
the lives, the occupations, the thoughts of all these 
.people. It's fairly killing me. 

Strength. Did you ever stop to think that per- 
haps its killing them too? 

Happiness. What would you have me do? 

Strength. Stay here, help in the building of this 
place, the building of lives. Instill part of your 
own great soul of happiness into all the souls that 
are hereabouts. There's the Commvmity Club : we're 
trying to do things, to give the men new ideas in 
their work, the women in their homes, the town in its 
ways of living. How you could help ! 

Happiness. Never, Strength. My heart's not 
in it. 

Strength. It might be. 

Happiness. What a world divides " it mig:ht be " 
from " it is." 



*t>* 



i8 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

(A quartet is heard off-stage singing ''Serenade/^ 
The song contimtes until the end of the 
scene.) 

Serenade 

Clouds flow white before the moon. 

Sky and earth are sweet with June, 

Dew-filled roses scent the air, 

Making every wind a snare, 

Fledged with petals pink and white, 

All for love and love's delight. 
Life with life is fondly mating, 
Come, my dear, your love is waiting. 

Glow-worms blink among the trees. 

Leaves swash silk-like in the breeze t 

Smooth and cool the river flows 

Under w^illows in repose ; 

Water lilies, pale as snow, 

Wait your coming, love, beIow\ 
All the world, my queen, implores you, 
Come to him w^ho so adores you. 

Happiness. {As the song begins) What's that? 

Strength. The quartet of our Community Club 
coming to serenade you. 

Happiness. I never knew you had a quartet. 

Strength. We've just started. Fm trying to 
lead them, but Fm pretty poor at it. But you could 
make this whole village and all these hills ring with 
song. 

Happiness. (Impulsively) Ah, don't begin 
again. 

Strength. (With a change) Don't go, dear. 

Happiness. (Softly) Why, Strength!! 

Strength. (As the song continues) I love 
you — You've always known it. You're the mean- 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 19 

ing of life to me, its beauty, its passion, its power, 
its mystery. You're your own dear self — my first 
love and my last. Don't you see what you're going 
means to me? 

PIappiness. {Touched) Dear boy, Fm sorry, 
{Pause) 

Strength. {Disconsolately) You don't love 
me? {She does not answer. There is a pause. 
Strength recovers himself) You are the happi- 
ness of my life. I shall always love you, remem- 
ber that ; always be ready to serve you, to come to 
you when you call, to receive you when you come 
to me. 

Happiness. Fll remember. 

(Dreams re-enters.) 

Dreams. {Giving a hand to Happiness and 
Strength) Ah, dear Happiness, dear Strength, 
w^hat a wonderfully bewitching world this is : — song 
in the crisp sunlight of the autumn, beauty in the 
shadows of the clouds on the waving grain. And 
what a still more majestic beauty lies beyond those 
hills — the city with its gaunt sky-scrapers, and the 
soft breezes blowing through the chiselled granite 
of its streets, and the great armies working in its 
factories and offices and shops, and life — life, march- 
ing as an army with banners. Think ! Think ! what 
awaits us there! 

Happiness. I go gladly with you. Dreams. 

Strength. {With deep feeling) Good luck go 
with you. 

Dreams. {To Strength) Come to see us when 
you can. 

Strength. Thanks. 

Happiness. Good-bye, Strength. 

Strength. {Bowing above her hand and kissing 
it) Good-bye, Happiness. {Hand in hand, Happi- 
ness and Dreams go out at the hack. Strength 
stands alone in the center of the stage looking after 



20 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

them, as amid the blending voices of the song in 
the deeping light 

The curtain falls 



SCENE II 

THE PALACES OF DREAMS 

Scene : The first curtains divide, disclosing the 
second curtains half drawn. The drop behind 
the curtains at the center shozvs the sky-line 
of the city. It is an autumn night. 

From' the back emerges Money, in his 
Saracen helmet and long coat of scale mail 
reaching to his knees. All of him is gold, even 
his hands and face. 

Money. I am Money, and I have gone before 
Happiness and Dreams to make their path smoother 
in this great city, which is the Palace of Dreams. 
I am the legacy that the old grandmother left to 
Happiness, and there is no legacy that is so welcome 
as money, and there are few things that money can- 
not do. I have cut these streets and built these 
palaces. From my hands go forth the ships upon 
the seas and the trains upon the land. For me 
everybody fights and struggles and lives and dies. 
I am the compeller of lives. With me come ease 
and breadth and power and luxury, the fierce 
beauty of gems, and even life's fleeting glimpse 
of Romiance. Without me there is poverty, hunger, 
and distress ; meanness and desolation and death. 
I am the most excellent of servants. I am the 
jinnee that lurks in the sealed bottle. I am the 
secret of Aladdin's Lamp ; the benefactor or the 
tyrant; the greatest blessing or the greatest curse. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 21 

I am curious to know what Happiness will do 
with me, and what this young man, Dreams, who 
accompanies her, will advise her. Hark, I hear 
them coming. They must not know yet that Tm a 
living thing, and that through all my arteries pulses 
liquid gold. Now that they have me they do not 
know my power; but if the time should ever come 
when they have me not — but we shall see. {He 
goes out right) 

{Enter left Dreams and Happiness.) 

Happiness. And this is the city! With what 
slender majesty those buildings sweep aloft. 

Dreams. Can you hear the throbbing of the 
million lives? 

Happiness. And there lies all that I would be: 
fame and power and a glorious memory. Tm grate- 
ful, Dreams, that youVe led me here. (Vigilance 
a gray-haired official looking woman stands at the 
center of the divided curtains) Who's that? 

Dreams. How stern she looks ! 

Happiness. Who are you that regard us so in- 
tently ? 

Vigilance. I am Vigilance, the watchful care 
that lurks in the bottom of your own minds. You 
think the city is a palace of dreams. Be careful. 
You may find it a slave pen or a prison. 

Happiness. How everybody warns and threatens ! 
Have I not a mind, and haven't I thought it all out ? 
I must go forward. I must obey the instinct that 
urges me on. I shall die if I don't. 

{At the right behind Happiness and Dreams comes 
forivard False Hope, a lovely girl made up to 
resemble a rainbow. She has a very large 
many-colored ruff extending from the back of 
her neck far above her head. Her majuier is 
light, petulant, teasing, childlike.) 



22 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

False Hope. (Brightly) Well said, Happiness. 

Happiness. And who are you? 

False Hope. I am Hope. There are two of us. 
My older sister wears dark clothes and people 
call her True Hope, while me they call False Hope. 
That is so unjust. I am not false. 1 only tell people 
to do what they want to do, and tell them that 
what they want to do will always turn out right. 

Happiness. I like you, False Hope. 

Dreams. And I, too. We three shall be good 
friends. (To Happiness) Follow me, always; 
don't be afraid. 

Vigilance. Fve told you to beware. I can do 
more. And you too. Dreams, with your fancies and 
lovely thoughts and good intentions, be careful of 
False Hope. (She stalks off to the right) 

Dreams. What a curious old party it is ! " Care- 
ful," and this to me ! My law is not care but 
freedom. 

False Hope. Good ! Be free ! Only in freedom 
can you be happy. 

Happiness. (To False Hope) Shall you go 
with me ? 

False FIope. False Hope will not leave Happi- 
ness so long as Happiness makes a friend of Dreams. 
Ah! Here come my friends, Career and Celebrity. 

Dreams. I have heard of them. I shall be happy 
to meet them. 

(Career and Celebrity in evening dress and over- 
coats enters at the right. Career is a young 
man — has a small waxed mustache ; he is quietly 
and immaculately dressed. Celebrity is 
rotund, wears long hair and a full short beard. 
His accent is somewhat German.) 

Career. Ah, False Hope! well met You have 
long been aw^ay from the gay lights. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 23 

Celebrity. (In his German accent) Upon my 
vord, dear girl, I've misst you. 

False Hope. Happiness, may I present Career 
and Celebrity? {They greet one another) Career 
and Celebrity, our new friend, Dreams. 

Celebrity. It is gut to see young faces in the 
city. 

Dreams. I've come to study art. 

Happiness. And I to sing. 

False Hope. You could not find a better teacher 
than Celebrity. 

Career. You have a good presence. But have 
you a voice? 

Happiness. I think — that is, I don't know. 

False Hope. {To the men) Charming modesty. 

Celebrity. Come to my studio to-morrow. Let 
me try your voice. Ve shall soon know. Put it 
needs no hearing. You must have a peoutiful voice 
vit that fine young body. {Tentatively) Of course, 
I am an expensive teacher. 

Happiness. Oh, I've money. I can pay you 
well. 

Celebrity. {Jielieved) Ah so? Ve vill con- 
sider the matter settled. I do not like these sordid 
details. 

False FIope. {To Career) And when she can 
sing well, you will find a place for her on the stage, 
Vv^on't you Career? 

Career. Seeing that Happiness has money, I'm 
sure it won't be difficult. 

Celebrity. No, I'm sure it von't. {Bowing 
gallantly) Until to-morrow then. 

Happiness. Good-bye, Maestro Celebrity. 

Career. {To False Hope and Dreams) 1 shall 
see you soon, I hope? 

Dreams. {Gratefully) Yes, thank you. 

False Hope. {Smilingly to Career) False 



24 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Hope is never very far from Happiness when she 
seeks a Career. 

Career. {To False Hope) We understand 
each other. (Celebrity and Career go out at the 
left) 

False Hope. {To Happiness and Dreams) 
Now come, dear friends. False Hope will lead you 
on. Oh, the wonderful happiness that awaits you! 
With Money running before you, with Celebrity to 
teach you, and Career to light your way, with False 
Hope to urge you on, and Dreams by your side, the 
palaces of this glorious great city will soon be 
yours. {They go out at the right) 

The curtain falls 

END OF ACT I 



ACT H 

SCENE III 

THE HALLS OF EXPECTATION 

Scene : From the first curtains emerges a vivid 
attractive little woman called Good Time. She 
is in a young woman's evening dress, a vision 
of loveliness. 

Good Time. My name is Good Time. Pm some- 
thing that everybody wants and few get, and I have 
as many faces and forms as there are people in the 
world. I am both longing and content; labor and 
rest; striving and peace. I am the dream of the 
poet; the conquest of the warrior; the perfection 
of the artist. I am brightness, gayety, and joy. I 
am the bubbles of the wine. I am the fresh, fine 
strength of men. I am the perfumed hair and 
gleaming shoulders of women. I am lights and 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 25 

jewels and furs, Persian rugs, and Oriental tapestry, 
discreet servants and wide halls of laughter. I am 
everything and nothing: the satisfaction of the 
deepest instincts of humanity, — a forgotten memory 
of a day that is no more. I am a will o' wisp, — 
grasp me and I am nothing; let go of me, pursue 
me, and I am the haunting vision of life. These 
are my halls, the Halls of Expectation. Here are 
the young girl Happiness and her comrade, Dreams, 
— here with her friends, False Hope, Career, Cele- 
brity, and Money, the strong, the mighty, who is my 
best friend. 

{Music and laughter off-stage. Many voices unite 
in singing the "Drinking Song'') 

DRINKING SONG. 

Drink 'er down, drink 'er down. 

Drink 'er down, down, down. 

Drink 'er down till you're happy 

From your toes to your crown. 

A long pull, a strong pull till bottoms are up. 

And drown all your troubles in the depths of the cup. 

Good Time. {As the song proceeds) Do you 
hear? Life beats in their ear drums and tips of 
their fingers. Passion for enjoyment intoxicates 
their senses. I shall soon join them and go among 
them: I, the Good Time that they adore. 

(The music and singing have been grozving louder. 
Nozv as they reach their climax, the ctirtains 
divide. A circular table magnificently laid is 
at the right, a grand piano covered with silken 
shazvls at the left. At the table are seated 
Happiness, facing the audience, Dreams to her 
left and Money to her right. Next to Dreams 
is False Hope and to her left is Celebrity. 



26 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

The chair next to Money is now vacant. It is 
the seat of Good Time. Adjoining it sits 
Career. Next to Career is Vigilance. All 
are attired in evening dress so far as may be 
without divesting the roles of their charac- 
teristic costmnes; for example, Money wears 
his coat of mail, hut it is open at the front and 
he has on evening shirt, zvaistcoat, collar, and 
tie. He wears his helmet. False Hope still 
zvears her rainbozv contrivance like an enormous 
ruff or collar extending upward from the hack 
of her neck, but her dress is decollete. As the 
curtains divides. Good Time steps into the 
scene, the song comes to an end, and the diners 
applaud.) 

All. Well done ; fine ; good ; let's have some 
more. 

Money. (Rising and holding the chair for 
Good Time) Good Time, you must not leave us. 

Happiness. Not even for a moment. 

Dreams. We'll miss you so. You are the life of 
our feast. 

Good Time. You must not make so much of 
me now that I am here, or I shall go again. 

Vigilance. Let her go. 

All. (Rising) Old croaker. No, you must not 
go — We won't hear of it — Not for a moment, oh, 
please remain. 

Happiness. Good Time, don't leave us. We 
shall be very lonely without you. 

Good Time. Oh, well, if you insist. 

All. We do ; we do. 

Good Time. Then I shall remain, but only on 
condition. 

Dreams. Name it, dear lady, and it is performed. 

Good Time. (Continuing) Let us have a toast 
to our lovely hostess, Happiness. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 27 

All. (With approval) Yes, yes, a toast, a 
toast. 

Money. Celebrity, you are the oldest. 

Celebrity. I like dat. 

All. {Striking the table) Yes, yes, Celebrity. 

(Vigilance stands to one side.) 

Celebrity. {Half -rising) I yield — against my 
vishes. 

{Laughter, cries of ''Hear'' ''Hear.'') 

Good Time. Hush, let us hear the toast. 

Celebrity. {Rising and holding aloft his glass) 
In the few monts dat Happiness has been vit us, 
she has become one of ourselves. I can testify that 
she has vorked hard at her singink, and I prophesy 
dat vit time she will become one of the golden 
memoried songbirds of life. To Happiness, — to 
Dreams her leader, — To Money her knight- 
protector and man-at-arms, — to False Hope, her 
inspirer, and to Good Time, her comrade — AH hail ! 

{Cries of "Hear'' "Hear"'. All rise rapturously 
crying out, and as they hold out their glasses to 
Happiness, their voices merge finally in the 
one sound "To Happiness, all hail.") 

Happiness. Thank you, all of you. You make 
me very happy. 

Good Time. {Leaping upon a chair) Let us 
have music and song and laughter and dancing. 
Good Time is among you, make the most of her. 

All. Yes, yes, music and song and laughter and 
dancing. 

(Celebrity in the meantime has taken his place at 
the piano and the instrument resounds witli the 
sound of syncopated melody. The song can he 
any popular song. All join in the words, zvhcn 



28 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Good Time leaping on the table, dances zvildly, 
amid the applause and cries of the others. 
When the music comes to an end, Good Time 
is lifted off the table by Career and Money. 
The others amid hurrahs and exclamations 
shove the table off right to clear a space for 
dancing. Then all join hands, whirl around 
rapidly, execute the grand change, dance a fezv 
steps of the one-step, again join hands and zvhirl 
around. The music and dance come to an 
end.) 

Vigilance. (Suddenly still) What's that? 

False Hope. (A little tipsy) You're hearing 
things, ole dear. 

Vigilance. Hark, don't you hear it? 

Good Time. (Shivering) You are chilling 
Good Time. (A hush falls upon the crowd) 

Vigilance. There don't you hear it? There it is. 
(There is absolute silence on the stage. From off- 
stage is heard the voice of Strength singing part 
of the '' Serenade '' of the first scene. — Triumph- 
antly) There you hear it at last! 

Good Time. Yes, at last. Now you have driven 
Good Time away. (She goes over to the corner 
right front, and sits down with her back to the 
others) 

False Hope. (To Vigilance) Now see what 
you've done. 

Vigilance. (To Happiness) Don't listen to 
them. Hearken to the purity of that song, and then 
look at this — (With a motion of displeasure) 

Dreams. I know that voice. 

Happiness. And I, too, Dreams. It is — 
(Strength appears at the center back at the head 
of the tzvo steps) Strength. (She goes to him, 
giving him both of her hands) 

Strength. Happiness. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 29 

Happiness. Welcome, Strength. (Turns to 
others) This is my old friend, Strength. Strength, 
my friends, Money, Celebrity, and Career, Vigilance, 
Good Time, and False Hope. (They exchange 
greetings. To Celebrity) Play on, let's have more 
dancing. Strength is one of us. 

(False Hope has approached Good Time.) 

False Hope. Oh, do get up Good Time, and join 
us. 

Good Time. (Pouting) I don't like that young 
man. Strength. 

False Hope. Old sulks. (She walks away, the 
dance begins again, with less spirit this time. It 
suddenly stops) 

Happiness. What is the matter? 

False Hope. Good Time won't join us. 

Good Time. (Rising. Speaks quite formally to 
Happiness) I have enjoyed your dinner party so 
much, dear Happiness. It was quite a success, but 
I really must go. 

All. Ah, don't, don't. 

Good Time. (Insistently) But I must. 

Happiness. (Quite formally) So sorry, dear. 
I hope we'll see you soon again. 

Good Time. Good-night everybody. 

All. Good-night. (She goes out at the back. 
The others are disposed about the room, singly or in 
pairs. Celebrity is still at the piano. Dream is 
at the right hand of Happiness, who is at the 
center; to her left a little down stage, is Strength. 
To the right of Dreams is Vigilance) 

Vigilance. (To Happiness) Good Time is 
not a very faithful friend. 

Dreams. It is her nature. She is as light and 
fleeting as the perfume of the violets of spring. 

Happiness. (Frowning) I don't Hke to see her 



30 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

spoil our evening for us. Look, everybody in the 
dumps. {To Strength) What shall I do? 

False Hope. {Joining them) Sing, play, dance 
once more. {To Strength) Won't you sing for 
us? 

Strength. I sing rather poorly. 

Happiness. Oh, anything just to keep the bubble 
floating. 

Strength. {Laughing) Thanks for the com- 
pliment. 

Happiness. I didn't mean it that way. Do sing 
for us, Strength. 

Strength. {Cheerfully) I am nothing if not 
obliging. {He sings his song, '' The strong-zvinged 
day is over/') 

THE STRONG-WINGED DAY. 

The strong-winged day is over, — 

Rest! 
Warm-dry burrow, cover, 

Nest, 
Shelter the furred and feathered 

Lives : 
The bees are gathered in their weathered 

Hives. 

My thoughts awake, unresting. 

Roam — 
Devoid of shelter, nesting. 

Home; 
And ever they are singing 

Clear 
Of you, the goal of all their winging. 

Dear. 

(At the end of the song there is fragmentary 
applause.) 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 31 

False Hope. {To Career) Rag-time for mine, 
Old Top. 

Happiness. {To Dreams) That won't bring 
Good Time back. Let's have singing and dancing 
again. Perhaps she will return. {To Celebrity) 
Plciy your loudest, your strongest, and your best. 
Let us forget these old thoughts and slumbering 
memories. Play as you never played before. {He 
responds, playing with power and vigor. The 
others take up the song once more. Good Time 
appears at the rear) 

False Hope. {To Happiness) Here Good 
Time comes again. Don't seem to notice her. Let's 
lure her back with louder music, wine, and laughter. 
{They play and sing once more. Good Time rushes 
from her station at the back and flings herself with 
abandon into the rout. Strength and Vigilance 
stand to one side) 

Happiness. {As the music plays more softly) 
Join us Strength. 

Strength. {Standing aside) Join me, Happi- 
ness. 

Happiness. {Laughing) And be out of it — ah 
no ! {As the dancing proceeds and Happiness 
comes a little left of center, Vigilance stops 
her) 

Vigilance. Don't you see where your true in- 
terests lie? 

Happiness. They are here amid the light and the 
rhapsody of youth. 

Vigilance. Blind. Blind. {She goes out left. 

{The zvhirling steps proceed gaily now. Happiness 
and Strength stand face to face at the center, 
having detached themselves from the circling 
others.) 

Strength. {Moodily) Dearest. 
Happiness. {Brightly) Ah, not here. 



32 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Strength. I love you. With every passing 
day, I love you more. And the nights flow round me 
stiflingly with the thought of you. Come away 
from all this lightness and trifling to the high places 
that are yours. 

Happiness. If I do, I shall lose Good Time, and 
I like her so. 

Strength. You will find her in other surround- 
ings, and more constant in mind. 

Happiness. I have begun and I must go on. 

Strength. And your home, your parents, your 
people, and your work? 

Happiness. I shall do my work here. 

Strength. Can't I say anything to change your 
mind? 

Happiness. Nothing. You are keeping me from 
my guests. {She holds out her hand meaningfully) 

Strength. You are bidding me go? 

Happiness. Our thoughts cannot agree. Your 
song stills our song — your presence dismisses Good 
Time. Parting is best. 

Strength. {With a helpless gesture. He then 
brightens up) Good Time, I commend Happiness 
to you. Be as good and true to her as you can be — 
and when you go from her — as go you will — let it 
be without pain — {He goes out humming the notes 
of ''Serenade'') 

Happiness. {As the song fades in the distance, 
False Hope and Good Time approach Happiness, 
she puts her arms round them) False Hope and 
Good Time, I love you too well to part with you 
for hard-faced Vigilance and prosy Strength. Let 
the dance go on. 

(Celebrity plays "" The Drinking Song/' All sing 
and dance. In the midst of the wild gayety, 

The curtain falls 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 33 

SCENE IV 

THE GOLDEN TIDE 

{ Disc our agement, a tall, slender, wan-faced, black- 
gowned woman enters from between the first 
curtains.) 

Discouragement. There are shades of color even 
in black. In the small town, you saw Gossip, spread- 
ing rumors as thick as a flight of crows against the 
twilight skies. In the city, you saw Vigilance, 
bidding Happiness be careful. Now you see me, 
who am Discouragement — she of the downcast 
eyes and drooping shoulders ; she whose principle 
in life it is to say, " what profit is there beneath the 
sun ? '' When Money vanishes ; when False Hope 
goes ; when Good Time disappears ; when Celebrity 
is no more ; when Career is a forgotten hope, when 
Dreams have no power, and harsh life alone, 
gigantic, stripped of falsity and illusion stands forth, 
sheer and stark as the eternal mountains, then I, 
the daughter of the shadows of night, step forward. 
Discouragement fares not in the sunlight, nor in the 
heyday of youth, nor when the senses are robbed 
of their true seeing by the false glamor of forgetful 
luxury. When the dance is over, then come I. 
When the music and the song are past and the 
flowers are withered and good company departs ; 
when high expectations are not fulfilled ; when the 
work of the hand falls short of the conceptions of 
the mind ; when plans are broken and trust de- 
stroyed and comrades part, then am I, Discourage- 
ment, a faithful comrade. But in my companion- 
ship no one takes joy. I am Discoiu*agement of the 
downcast eyes and drooping shoulders, and 1 lead 
down and down and down. But you shall see. 



34 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

{Slozvly, in the half light, she disappears to the right. 
The curtains divide, disclosing the studio of Cele- 
BRiTV. The drop behind the last curtains represents 
a window looking out npon the city. Career is 
upon the sofa at the right, before which is a 
carriage for tea things; close beside it, above, sits 
False Hope, and to her left is Celebrity. All three 
are sipping their tea and nibbling at the cakes. Out- 
side of the zvindow, a snow storm. Near the foot- 
lights is a fender suggesting a fireplace) 

False Hope. {Glancing at the zvindozv zvith a 
shiver) U-U-Ugh it fairly makes me shiver to look 
out. {With a change) I do so like your studio, 
Celebrity. It is so warm, with such mellow and 
somber colors, — like a dream of a hundred years 
ago; and from every corner I fancy the old masters 
of music are peering at me and bidding me welcom^e. 

Celebrity. Hee, Hee ! False Hope vaxes po- 
etical. She has been too much vid Dreams of late. 

False Hope. At least, he is very young. 

Celebrity. {With a sigh) My years undo me. 
Ven I vas young, I bartered my youth and slaved my 
soul away to become a Celebrity. Now dat I am a 
Celebrity, I am reproached dat I am no longer 
young. 

(Career and False Hope laugh.) 

Career. But where is Dreams ? 

Celebrity. {Winking at him to make False 
Hope jealous) He's out vit Good Time. 

False Hope. {Taking the bait, her eyes narrow- 
ing) Oh, is he? 

Career. Jealous ? 

False Hope. I ? Jealous ? Absurd ! 

Celebrity. They were seen at the opera together 
last night. 

False Hope. Indeed ! 

Celebrity. Ah, come now, False Hope, don't 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 35 

begrudge Good Time. She's very fickle and will 
soon leave Dreams ; then for consolation he must 
come back to you. 

False Hope. (Clinching her teeth) Just wait 
till he does. (They laugh) 

Celebrity. {Looking at his watch) Almost 
time for Happiness. She has an appointment for a 
singink lesson vit me. I hope she comes vit Money. 

False Hope. Mercenary creature. 

Celebrity. {In his accent, cynically) Veil, if I 
velcomed all the little Happinesses that come to take 
singink lessons and had no money, Fm afraid dis 
room vould not be a dream of a hundred years ago 
vit de ghosts of music masters in the corners, and 
ve should certainly not be enjoying teas and cake. 
My motto : No money, no Happiness. {From the 
right enter Happiness and Money. He bustles to 
them) Ah, Happiness, I am delighted to see you; 
and you too. Money. Come, make yourself com- 
fortable. 

Happiness. Thank you, good master Celebrity. 

Celebrity. But you must not drink any tea or 
eat any cake, because drinking and eating before 
singink iss not gud. 

Career. {Giving his place to Happiness) My 
dear Happiness. 

Happiness and False Hope. {Kissing each 
other) Dearie ! 

False Hope. {In an undertone to Career zdio 
has in the meantime come beside her) Happiness 
is beginning to bore me. 

Celebrity. {To Money zvho stands center) 
And how are you, Money? 

Money. {Bowed, weak and coughing) Weak 
in the pins and there's something wrong with my 
tubes. {He coughs) I feel thin and going to pieces. 
Good Time leads too fast a pace for me to follow, 
and these late hours do me up. There's not much 



36 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

of me left. Tve sent for Strength to help me out. 
If he doesn't come in time, I fear that I must soon 
leave Happiness. 

Celebrity. {Shrewdly) Yess, is dat so? {He 
zvhistles softly) Plush, don't say anything about it 
now. 

(Dreams and Good Time enter right.) 

Dreams. Hello everybody. 

Good Time. Hello, Hello, Happiness. {She 
kisses Happiness and then tarns to False Hope) 
You old dear, won't you kiss me? 

False Hope. I am not in the kissing m.ood to- 
day. 

Good Time. What have I done now ? 

False Hope. Oh, nothing at all. 

Dreams. We've been wandering through the 
picture galleries. It makes one fairly despair to 
see so much beauty hung up on those walls. Why, 
it would take months and months to enjoy it. Yet 
here am I trying to add my own little perishable 
firefly of light to those majestic suns. 

Good Time. {To Dreams, laughingly) You 
don't work very much when I'm with you. 

Dreams. {Gallantly) Who wants to work when 
he is having a good time? 

Happiness. {Rising and approaching Cele- 
brity) It is getting late, hadn't we better begin 
our lesson? 

Celebrity. Lesson ! Vat a horrit vord ! You 
vould not drive away our company? There will 
be no lesson now. You will sing for us. 

Happiness. {Somewhat disappointed) Just as 
you say. 

(Celebrity goes to the piano and plays while the 
others are disposed about the room, mostly at 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 37 

the window at the back and at the fireplace. 
To the accompaniment, Happiness sings '' Re- 
membrancef') 

REMEMBRANCE 

Dim thoughts — where joy melts into pain — 
Drift through my mind hke melodies, 
Or as the fragrant files of rain 
Slant through the new-leaved trees. 

So many years, and words how few ! 
I scarce could think I met you here, 
If all my thoughts were not of you, — 
So far away, so dear. 

Dreams. {At the end of the song) Lovely! 

Good Time. Adorable ! 

False Hope. {To Happiness) She will win a 
career, ?md become a Celebrity. 

FIappiness. Do you think so? 

False Hope. I'm sure of it. 

Dreams. Think of the glory of standing before 
thousands of people and entrancing them with music. 

Money. {Disgruntled) You will have to make a 
companion of hard work who is not here, and it will 
take much of my strength to smooth your path. 
Between Good Time and False Hope and Dreams 
I'm wasting away. 

Dreams. You're a worse croaker than Vigilance. 

False Hope. Why you're strong as a lion. 

Good Time. Isn't Good Time worth it? 

{Remonstrating with him they take him to the back. 
Celebrity and Happiness are near the piano,) 

Happiness. Do you really think I sing well? 
Celebrity. You have a very promising voice. 



38 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Vat you do vid it all depents. But — but (Rubbing 
his fingers with his thumb meaning fully) 

Happiness. Are you going to charge me for this 
afternoon? 

Celebrity. Veil, it iss not a lesson, but still it 
has taken my time. 

Happiness. {Coolly) Oh! — very well. {She 
opens her pnrse, and places a gold piece in the 
hand of Celebrity) 

Money. {As if instinctively feeling her action 
although his back is turned, cries out) What's 
that? {He ttirns and sees) The last straw. {He 
hows as if his back were broken, and begins cough- 
ing) 

Dreams. What's the matter? {The others crowd 
round him) 

Money. {With difficulty) I — must — leave — 
Happiness. {He moves right) 

False Hope. Ah, don't go. 

Money. {Dully repeating) I — must ' 

Dreams. " {To Happiness) You plead with 
him. 

False Hope. {In distress) Happiness has lost 
her money. 

Money. {Gasping) No, not lost — thrown away — 
on the fancies of Dreams, spurred on by False 
Hope, wasted by Good Time, squandered on Cele- 
brity and Career. {He makes for the left. Then 
to Happiness) And now Money must go. Who 
now will stand between you and the terrors that 
Money has kept away from you with the power of 
his arm? See there they are, there, and there, 
and there 

Happiness. {Crying out) Where? 

Money. You will know them soon enough if 
you can't see them. Haven't I fought them all 
these months, and built a wall between them and 
you? But the wall is destroyed, the strong right 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 39 

arm lies nerveless, Money is ill and makes his way 
home to die. Good-bye, good-bye Happiness, good- 
bye Dreams, good-bye False, False Hope, and bad, 
Good Time Good-bye, good-bye. {He goes out) 

Good Time. {Briskly) Well, if Money is gone, 
this is no place for me. You can have money 
without a good time, but you can't have a good 
time without money. {She follows Money) 

Happiness. {Rousing herself) Now I begin 
to see what friends they were. Money required 
Vigilance to keep him, and Good Time required 
Money. Now I have lost them both. But let them 
go. False Hope and Dreams are still with me. I 
have my Career, I shall become a Celebrity. {She 
turns to Celebrity) When shall we have our 
next lesson? 

Celebrity. {Hems and haws) That — is — to — 
say — ven you get Money. 

Career. And I too must leave you for a while. 

False Hope. Career, you cannot be so heartless. 

Career. {To Happiness) Well, FU do what I 
can. Come to my office to-morrow and Fll give 
you work. But to sing before thousands, that's a 
different proposition. Fm afraid this means the 
bottom of the ladder. 

False Hope. {To Happiness) Accept it. 

Dreams. It's only the beginning, for the ladder 
reaches from the earth to the very skies. 

False Hope. I will go there and work with you. 
I shall be beside you all the time cheering you on. 

Career. Come False Hope. (False Hope and 
Career go out right) 

Celebrity. {To Dreams and Happiness, zvho 
remain) You will excuse mc. 1 have some counter- 
point to do. {He goes out left. Dreams and 
Happiness are left together) 

Dreams. You still have yoiu* Dreams. 1 will 
not leave you. 



40 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Happiness. How old and wan you have become. 
How sad your eyes are. 

Dreams. I shall not leave you, Happiness, and 
while you have Dreams you have the kingdoms of 
the w^orld. 

(At the back suddenly stands revealed Discourage- 
ment.) 

Happiness. {Crying ont) Dreams! 

Dreams. What is it? 

Happiness. Look — there — there ! ! 

Discouragement. I am Discouragement, come to 
take the place of the false friends who have left 
you, and I shall be with you unless once more you 
become strong enough of heart to drive me away. 

Dreams. Go away now ; we don't want you. 

(Happiness breaks down and weeps.) 

Discouragement. {To Dreams) I am that 
weeping and those tears, and when they cease I 
shall be the sadness of your heart. Until it changes, 
you cannot send me away. 

{A cry of ''Happiness'' ''Happiness'' ! off-stage 
right.) 

Happiness. Who's that? 
Dreams. It's Strength. 

(Strength comes rushing on in great anxiety.) 

Strength. Happiness ! 

Happiness. {Recovering herself — proudly) Yes? 
What is it ? 

Strength. Money has sent for me. He said he 
was going to leave you. On my way, I passed him 
tottering like a man in mortal illness. I've seen 
Good Time going in pursuit of him, and Celebrity 
and False Hope together. What has happened? 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 41 

Happiness. (Distantly) Nothing. 

Strength. Dreams, will you tell me? 

Dreams. I am only her Dreams. If she does 
not tell you, I cannot. 

Strength. (To Happiness) Don't tell me if 
you don't want to. But if you need anything, let 
me help you. I shall count it a great happiness. 

PIappiness. (Drawing herself up) I don't 
want you to help me. Do you think I am a child 
to be guarded? Why do you follow me? 

Strength. Why do you ask? 

Happiness. I will not listen to the voice of love 
while I have a personality to achieve and a career 
to gain. 

Strength. (Pleadingly) I'll be at your right 
hand. I'll follow you more faithfully than a slave 
who asks for nothing but to serve. I'll do any- 
thing you bid me do only to be beside you. Keep 
Dreams and all your other friends, but don't send 
me away. 

Happiness. (Passionately) You vex and 
trouble me. Strength; you disturb my thoughts and 
divide my mind. I want to follow the path I see be- 
fore me which leads to where the snow-clad peaks 
stand in the eye of the sun 

Strength. (In pain) Oh, don't, — that's not 
the path. You're heading for the swamp of misery 
and death. 

Happiness. If I am, be it my fault. I accept 
the burden of my own life. And now go and 
never come near me any more. 

Strength. (Taking her powerfully into his 
arms) You cannot drive me away. I'll come back 
again and again — I'll watch over you despite your- 
self. (He kisses her) I love you. Now hate me 
for that. 

Happiness. (Still in his arms) If ever I had a 
kind thought of you — it's dead. (Releasing her- 



42 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

self — to Discouragement) Will you show Strength 
the way out? 

Strength. (Betzveen tears and laughter) I 
could drive Discouragement away from you, and 
instead you're having her drive me away — oh, you 
fool — you — you beloved little fool. {As he turns 
to go out 

The curtain falls 



scene v 

THE MARKET PLACE 

Scene: Between the divided curtains enters 
Avarice, an enormously fat man most 
gorgeously made up to represent a Turkish 
Cadi. 

Avarice. Hello everybody ! Don't you know 
who I am? Pm Avarice — I thought some old skin- 
flint or other in this audience would recognize me. 
My garments are Turkish, you see, but I am partic- 
ular to no country and no climate. You will find 
me at the equator, where, whip in hand, I drive 
black, naked men to labor for me in the noisesome 
jungles. You will find me at the Arctic where clad 
in furs, I, the strong man, oppress my brother who 
is weaker than I, forbid him to hunt where I hunt, 
or to have as much bear-meat or blubber as I — 
And I love blubber ! You will find me in many a 
small town where I consistently wear the same suit 
of clothes for ten years on end, make my wife slave 
in the kitchen, and refuse to buy her a new bonnet 
for Easter. That just shows you how sensible I 
am. In fact, wherever there is tyranny or oppres- 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 43 

sion or injustice, you will find me. I am the old 
man of the sea, and I ride on the backs of humanity. 
They call me old system and wornout laws and the 
necessity of preserving private property. {He 
laughs loud mid long) I rock with gales of laughter 
till I almost split my sides, because I know that I 
am only a big, fat, soft creature, with a hard head 
and a cruel heart who wants more than he ought 
to get, and poor fools, — you give it to me. If I am 
a grabber of lands and money and lives, don't blame 
it on my power but on your weakness. And now I 
will leave you, because I don't like to work too hard, 
and I have some more lines to say in this play. I 
would say fewer if the author would let me, but he 
insists on making me talk. Very frankly, — this is 
in confidence, — I don't like the author. He doesn't 
realize what an important creature I am, and he 
makes me tell all my secrets. But let him look out ! ! 
Some day he may fall a prey to Avarice himself. 
And now good-bye. Don't shed tears over my de- 
parture ; I shall soon be with you again. ( With a 
magnificent strut he walks off) 

(As the curtains divide, the office of Career is dis- 
closed. As the right of the center is a large 
mahogany flat top desk. At the upper left, fac- 
ing left, are two chairs and two imaginary type- 
writing machines. False Hope is at the 
upper imaginary typewriting instrument. Good 
Time stands dawdling at the longer instrument. 
Dreams is left of center zvith a feather duster 
in his hand. Career sits on the right hand 
side of the desk busy among some papers. 
At the upper end of the desk is Avarice.) 

Good Time. {Laughingly to Dreams at the left) 
Why the woe-begone expression, Dear Dreams ? 



44 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Dreams. Why? Here are hands that were 
destined to hold a paint brush, and behold, a feather 
duster! I was supposed to paint glowing pictures, 
which should be hung on the walls of great 
museums ; instead of which I am dusting the walls. 
(Good Time and False Hope laugh) That's it, 
laugh! Between you two girls I heard the angels 
whistling, but the morning after ! {He holds 
his head between his hands) 

False Hope. It's improved your humor at any 
rate. 

Dreams. {Lugubriously) Oh, I've become a 
regular cut-up. 

Good Time. {Going over to the right, while 
Dreams and False Hope speak to each other at the 
left) Ah, Career — Avarice. 

Avarice. Delighted, dear lady, delighted. Come 
kiss your uncle. 

Good Time. Bold, bad man. 

Avarice. {Taking her in his arms) I like nice 
little girls, with nice little curls, and nice little kisses 
that Avarice never misses. 

Good Time. {Releasing herself) Go away. 
{She turns to Career) Old plodder, haven't you 
anything to say to me? 

Career. {Petulantly) You know I'm too busy 
for a good time. Besides — making up to Avarice 
under my very nose ! 

Good Time. {Sitting upon the desk) Don't be 
peevish; you may kiss my hand. 

Avarice. {Taking her other hand) Nice little 
hand. 

Good Time. {Smacking him lightly) You are 
too greedy. 

Avarice. You are too pretty. 

Good Time. Where is Happiness? 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 45 

Career. (Pointing off-stage right) In one of 
the other offices. 

Good Time. How does she take it? 

Career. (Grinning) Like a lamb, and after 
queening it among us too. 

Avarice. (In tears) It really was pathetic, poor 
child. (They talk among themselves) 

(Money enters the office from the left. He seems 
to have recovered from his weakness.) 

Money. (To Dreams) Tell Career that Money 
wants to see him. 

Dreams. To tell you the truth, we all want to 
see you, Mr. Money. 

Money. (Brusquely) Seeing's one thing, hay- 
ing's another. Take my card, you beggar, and step 
lively. Time's money. (Hands him a gold coin) 

Dreams. In that case I ought to be a millionaire. 
(To False Hope, looking at the coin) A gold piece. 
(To Money) You haven't an extra card you can 
spare? (Ingratiatingly) No? 

Money. (Thnnderonsly) No. 

Dreams. Oh, no ! (He zvalks right to Career) 

Career. (Impatiently to Dreams) Well, well, 
well, what is it, what is it? (Dreams hands him 
the gold piece. Arising) Money! give it to me, 
and show him in. 

Dreams. How easily money slips through the 
hands of Dreams. (Dreams goes left and Money 
crosses over to Career) 

Avarice. (Overcome, — sentimentally tearful) 
Well, well, look who's here ! Avarice loves Money 
like a brother. 

Money. (Withering upon seeing Good Time) 
What's she doing here? 

Career. On a friendly visit. 

Money. The visits of Good Time always seem 



46 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

friendly, but keep her away from me. She makes 
my arms melt like candles in a hot flame. At her 
touch, I dissolve and vanish. 

Avarice. Good Time is a hot time some time. 

Career. Hush, children. Here comes Happi- 
ness. 

(Happiness enters between the curtains at the right. 
Behind her is Discouragement.) 

Happiness. (Starting somewhat at seeing those 
present, — then mastering herself she walks over to 
the desk and hands Career some papers) You 
sent for these ? 

Career. Yes. 

Good Time. {As if to greet her) Why Happi- 
ness, my dear! 

Happiness. {Formally) How do you do. 

Avarice. Don't go Happiness. You're among 
friends. 

Happiness. Don't think me rude, but haven't we 
parted company? 

Money. If you had not made so much of Good 
Time, you would not have made so little of Money. 

Happiness. You seem to have recovered from 
the shock. 

Money. I am the servant of another. In the 
hands of the weak, I am weak. With the strong, 
I am mighty. 

Happiness. That is to say you are a slave of 
slaves. 

Avarice. My, what a peppery tongue she hath. 

Discouragement. {In an undertone to Happi- 
ness) Don't answer Money. Career and Avarice 
are his friends. You will lose your place. 

Money. Right you are. Discouragement, she's too 
proud. 

Career. No, no, I like spirit in my employees. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 47 

{To Happiness) But not too much spirit, mark 
you that. Put it into your work and not your talk. 

Happiness. You need not fear, I shall earn my 
wage. {She turns to the desk at the left) 

Discouragement. {In an undertone) Make up 
to Career, he likes you. Why should you work so 
hard? 

Happiness. Be silent. Discouragement; you 
weaken me. (Happiness sits at the lower imaginary 
typewriter, Discouragement beside her. Mean- 
while the group at the right converse among them- 
selves) 

Dreams. You look very tired, Happiness. 

Happiness. Oh, it's just discouragement, I sup- 
pose. 

False Hope. Don't mind, old dear, you'll still 
become a wonderful singer; but one must live, and 
if you have to v^^ork all day to pay for your music 
lessons, why it doesn't matter. Every beginning is 
hard. Just think of the end of the road. 

Discouragement. Is there any end of the road? 

Dreams. Oh, I hate you. Discouragement. 
Happiness is the shining white throat of song itself. 

Discouragement. But she can do so little with- 
out money. And Money would be her friend if she 
only made up to Career. 

Happiness. I'm making Money my friend in the 
only way I know. By work ! {She turns to her 
paper and typezvriter) 

Good Time. {At the right) Well, I must leave 
you. Career. 

Career. Yes, back to the grindstone for me. 

Good Time. While I go fluttering through the 
sunlight like the butterfly that I am. Oh, how 
nice it is to bathe in the warm zephyrs, to float with- 
out effort through clear, blue pools of light. 

Money. Yes, go. I am too much of the earth 
to follow you. When I try to fly, I only fall. 



48 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Good Time. You are metal ; and I, gossamer. 

Avarice. But this balloon would merrily spoon 
among the clouds that float in June. 

Good Time. (Temptingly to Money) Don't you 
like me a bit — not a wee little bit? 

Money. (In a conflict of emotions. Almost tak- 
ing her in his arms) You make me flame with 
desire, you lovely, poisonous flower that I hate, 
yet hunger for. 

Good Time. (Laughing at him, and kissing her 
finger tips to all three) Good-bye all of you, 
especially Money. (She goes near Money) Won't 
you kiss me? 

Money. (Shrinking away from her) No, no, 
I'm afraid. 

Good Time. (Laughing) Of poor little me? — 
Avarice isn't afraid, are you? 

Avarice. Well, I should say not. (He grabs at 
her — she eludes his grasp and makes for the door) 

Good Time. Ta, ta, all of you. (She goes left 
to Dreams and the others) 

Career. (At the right) Good Time is a charmer, 
the greatest of them all. 

Money. (Shivering) I hate her. 

Career. (Grimly) And she loves you. Life is 
a joke ! 

Avarice. (Unctuously) But we can't always 
laugh at it. Instead, it often laughs at us. 

Money. (To Career) If you like Good Time, 
why don't you make up to her ? 

Career. (Slowly, with passion-drowsy eyes) 
Because — there's — another. 

Money. (Wonderingly) Cold Career, you in 
love ! 

Career. I don't know what you'd call it, but 
with all the power of my lonely heart, I crave for — 

Money. (Quietly) What? 

Career. (In a whisper) Happiness! 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 49 

Avarice. {Helplessly) Well, P'll ht—(They 
speak amongst themselves) 

Good Time. (At the left, to Happiness im- 
pulsively) Ah my dear, can't we still be friends? 

Happiness. Pm here wringing out of the grapes 
of toil and misery a few precious drops of the wine 
of peace. Why do you come to trouble me? My 
soul is among the roots in the necessary soil of tasks 
that must be done. Why do you make me restless 
and dissatisfied by pointing to the white and pink 
blossoms in the soft bright air of spring? Go your 
way and let me be. 

Good Time. Yet I can serve you. 

False Hope. Listen to Good Time, Happiness. 

Discouragement. Why not? 

Dreams. (Brightly) Perhaps she has some 
mysterious key that will unclose the lock of success. 
Pd like a little key of that kind myself. 

Happiness. (In a violent conflict of emotions) 
No, no, no. 

Good Time. (Leaning over her) Career loves 
you. 

Happiness. It's not love. 

Good Time. Then you have seen the tiny tongues 
of flame that play up in his eyes. Career longs for 
Happiness. He finds the peaks to which he has 
climbed barren and lonely. He needs — he w^ants 
you. 

Happiness. I don't love him. 

Good Time. Remember that strong Money is at 
his right side, and how powerful his soul is made 
by Avarice. He can give you anything your heart 
desires. 

Happiness. (Rising) I won't listen to you. 

Good Time. (Preening herself for her de- 
parture) Well, Pve done my best for you. Suit 
yourself ; but Happiness will never be friends with 
Good Time until she wins Career and Money. 



50 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Dreams. {To Good Time) Haven't you any- 
thing to say to me before you go? I was devoted 
to you. 

Good Time. {Lightly) Need we discuss the 
snows of yesteryear? {She goes out) 

Dreams. Good-bye, little snowball ! 

Money. {To Career at the right) She's 
penniless. You could have her for the asking. 

Avarice. I'll ask her for you. 

Career. I'll do my wooing in my own way, but 
stand by my side. 

Avarice. I'll call her. {Goes to Happiness; 
touches her on the arm; and motions her to go to 
Career's desk) 

Discouragement. Go to him. Life is so hard 
alone. 

Dreams. Listen to the honeyed words of Career, 
they are primroses and forget-me-nots. We'll leave 
you. (Dreams goes out left with False Hope and 
Discouragement) 

Happiness. {Going to Career at the right) 
You called? 

Career. Yes, but not on business. 

Happiness. {Trembling) Then w^-why? 

Career. Haven't you seen? 

Happiness. W-what ? 

Career. That I long for you with such a yearn- 
ing that life without you is nothingness. 

Happiness. {Looking into his eyes) Do you 
love me ? 

Career. {Hedging) What is love? 

Happiness. It's hope and bravery and truth; 
it's devotion and self-sacrifice. {Pause) Would 
you give up your career for Happiness ? 

Career. {Forthright) I am Career because a 
thousand times on my upward path, I have killed 
my happiness. Because I have listened to the pierc- 
ing sweet words of Fame and Money, because I have 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 51 

wanted power and applause, and above all, my own 
approval of work well done, I have had no thought 
of happiness. Now that I have all these, I still 
long for you. 

Money. {Temptingly) He will give you ease; 
bring back to your bosom light-hearted Good Time ; 
bid me carry you in these strong arms and level 
down all obstacles before you. He will fulfill your 
dreams, and with fulfillment open up before you the 
wilder unfulfilled. He will drive Discouragement 
from your side, and lead you home not a failure but 
a crow^ned success. 

Happiness. {In doubt) What shall I do? 

Avarice. {Temptingly to Happiness) He will 
take you to the tops of the high mountains where 
he is. You will see far down beneath you the 
golden lands and the silver streams and the little 
creeping people who will look longingly up to you. 
He will make you a name and a loveliness, an echo 
of immortal song in the hearts of men. Listen to 
him. {In the back suddenly stands revealed Pride, 
a woman clad in black velvet, trimmed with gold, 
and cut after the mediaeval fashion) 

Pride. Do you hear what they are saying? 

{The four others start.) 

Career. Who are you, and what are you doing 
here? 

Pride. I am Pride, that saves many women when 
strength is gone. {Turning to Happiness) Are 
you so mean a thing that you will listen to this 
tempting, you who have known true love beating 
in the heart of Strength? 

Happiness. {Torn bctzveen conflicting emotions) 
Save me. Pride ! 

Pride. I can only help you save yourself. What 
are these creatures offering you? Only what they 



52 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

have. Will that still the unappeasable hunger of 
your heart for love? Summon Strength. 

Happiness. He's too far away. 

Pride. Only want him and call for him, and he 
will be at your side. 

Career. {To Money and Avarice) Bind Pride. 
Don't let her speak. 

(Avarice and Money seize Pride, and do as they 
are bid.) 

Happiness. {Crying out) Strength, Strength, I 
need you Strength. 

Career. {Seizing Happiness in his arms) Your 
pride is stifled, bound hand and foot by my money. 
Now will you come to me ? 

Happiness. {Struggling) No, no, no. Help, 
Strength. Help. 

Career. You belong to me — for all time. 

Happiness. {Struggling) YouVe played upon 
my weakness and misery. I don't love you. Let 
me go. 

Career. {As she struggles zvith him) You're 
mine, do you hear, mine — mine. 

Happiness. Strength 

Strength. {Appearing from the right; catches 
Career by the shotdder and throws him from her. 
To Career) You, renowed Career, to bind a wo- 
man's pride and steal your happiness. {Quietly) 
Go. 

Career. {To Happiness) Leave my employ at 
once, do you hear ? There is no career for you, you 
beggar upon the highroad of success. 

Strength. {To him) Get out. (Career does 
so. To Avarice and Money who stand trembling 
before him) Unloosen Pride. {They do so in 
fear) How cheap you are with all your gold I 
(Money slinks azvay. Approaching Avarice) And 
you 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 53 

Avarice. Don't you hit me. {He scampers off 
right) 

(Pride rejoins Happiness.) 

Happiness. {Holding out her hand gratefully to 
Strength) Thanks. 

Strength. Isn't it anything but gratitude? 

Pride. Happiness thanks you for coming, but 
now that Pride is free once more, she does not need 
you. I can serve her just as well. 

Strength. {To Happiness, sadly) YouVe 
always listened to everybody else but me, and now 
you're listening to Pride. Listen to the promptings 
of your own heart. I love you truly, and you only. 
There's not a thinking moment of my life that is not 
dedicated to you. You are my all in the world, my 
one story that takes me from among men and 
dignifies me with more than mere daily life. I love 
you. 

Happiness. But what of my ambitions and my 
dreams ? 

Strength. Give them up for truer hopes and 
nobler ambitions. 

Pride. {To Happiness) And go his way in- 
stead of your own? Be yourself! You did not 
yield to Career — Now even though he helped you, 
don't yield to Strength. 

Happiness. {Half -hysterically) I want none of 
you — only to be left alone with my Pride. 

Strength. {Imploringly) Ah, my dear, my 
darling. 

Happiness. Let me alone. 

Strength. {Pulling himself together) I've 
done all I could, begged, implored, entreated. I 
shan't trouble you any more. It's over, — this is 
the end. 

Happiness. Very well then — the end ! 



54 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

(With a motion of bitterness and pain Strength 
pushes the scene azvay from him, as it were, 
and goes out left. 

The curtain falls 

END OF ACT H 



ACT HI 

SCENE VI 

THE HALLS OF EXPECTATION 

(FoRGETFULNESS, a young woman, with a costume 
of gauze ranging in shade from pale yellow to 
burnt-orange, with poppies all over her, enters.) 

FoRGETFULNEss. I am the spirit of Forgetfulness. 
To me men and women turn when they seek the 
momentary freedom from pain that their aching 
senses crave. But there is nothing in this world 
given for nothing. Forgetfulness exacts her price, 
and she is always paid. Those who call upon me 
in weary sleep, pay by a few short hours of their 
lives ; those who adopt means more violent pay 
more violent prices. I have every kind of Forget- 
fulness for sale; a moment of joy in the glint of 
the rainbow on a summer day ; the deep absorptions 
of work ; the calm of meditation ; the weariness of 
labor; all these are mine. And mine are those 
fierce splendors, those barbaric pleasures that lurk 
in the mysterious distillations of flowers and weeds 
and the growing things of the poison of nature. 
You ask for wine? Pay me and you shall have it. 
Do you want more powerful spells, grander and 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 55 

more terrifying visions? Pay for it, and you shall 
have the white powder which brings on waves of 
ease and relaxation, or that crimson flower of 
languor and cruelty which for the hour of happy 
visions will plant the tiger's claw in your heart for- 
ever. All these have I to offer, and many, many 
more. But you must pay your price for Forgetful- 
ness even as you must pay your price for Good 
Time or for Money or for Avarice or Career or for 
Dreams or Strength or Discouragement or Happi- 
ness. You pay for everything you have; every 
heart beat balances the books ; and there is no escape 
from the figuring of Fate. 

Man has but these safeguards : his vision, the 
wandering and discovery of his venturesome mind, 
his power of will that keeps him steering straight 
to his course. I am at his service to do w^ith as he 
wills. I sell to none but those who wish to buy, and 
my price is known to all. H you seek Forgetfulness, 
remember that you pay. (She goes off the stage. 
The Curtains divide. It is the Halls of Expecta- 
tion once more. Celebrity and Career, Good Tiem, 
False Hope, Avarice, and Money have modified 
their characteristic costumes zvith some touch of 
masquerade. They wear dominoes, cloaks, masks 
or the like, hut they still retain the distinctive 
features of their original costumes. Strength is 
among them. A richly decked table at right and the 
piano at left. As the curtains divide, Celebrity is 
playing, the others dancing a one-step in pairs. 
Strength in a richly beautiful clown's costume 
stands to one side near the piano. He is the prey 
to conflicting and violent emotions.) 

Forgetfulness. (Approaching Strength, 7vhile 
the music plays more softly and the dancers for the 
moment pause) Why the brown study? 

Strength. (Starting) Why the question? 

Forgetfulness. Still longing for Happiness? 



56 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Strength. What's that to you? 

FoRGETFULNESS. {Laughing) Don't be a fool, 
my boy, she's not giving you a thought. Why don't 
you forget her? 

Strength. {Earnestly) I wish I could. 

FoRGETFULNESS. I'll show you how. 

Strength. {Eagerly) Will you? 

FoRGETFULNESS. {Temptingly) Yes. Join me 
in this dance, yield yourself to my arms and you will 
no longer remember. 

Strength. I will. {He seizes her. Outcry and 
rejoicing on the part of all. ''Strength seeks For- 
getf Illness f' The music plays loudly and they whirl 
into the dance. The dance comes to an end. Laugh- 
ter, cries. They form round the table right) 

Good Time. {To Strength) I'm glad to see 
you companioned by Forgetfulness. Dance, drink, 
be happy. It's the only way. {She starts "" The 
Drinking Song'' followed by all the others in the 
chorus. At it's end, cries, applause, and laughter) 

(Happiness, clad as Columbine, Dreams in a 
Pierrot costume, and Discouragement in a 
long full dress of dark lavender enter from the 
left.) 

Discouragement. {To Happiness) You see. 
Strength did not really love you. Here he seeks 
Forgetfulness. 

Dreams. {Wooingly) Why should you think 
of Strength and his excesses when you can have the 
beauty and brilliancy of Dreams ? 

Good Time. {Catching sight of Happiness) 
Well, look who's here! 

Avarice. Happiness, as I live ! 

Money. {Gruffly) Happiness is a stranger to 
Money. 

False Hope. But False Hope says she still can 
sing. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 57 

Avarice. Sing for us Happiness. Even though 
we are not such close friends as once we were, we 
are good fellows all. We make you welcome ; that is, 
for what you can give us. 

Discouragement. Sing for Avarice, Happiness. 
He will bring back Money to you. 

Dreams. Who knows, perhaps Career will still 
be yours. 

Happiness. (With half-hysterical resolution) 
You want me to sing for you. Why not? What 
does it matter? Who will sing with me? 

Dreams. (Brightly) I, I. 

Happiness. (To Strength) Will you? 

Strength. (Bitterly) Yes — to show you how 
little it matters. 

The Others. Bravo ! Strength and Dreams will 
sing with Happiness ! 

(The Trio sing ''The Masks!') 
THE MASKS. 

In Carnival Youth, when confetti 

Makes rainbows at night. 
And great is no better than petty, 

And nothing is trite, 
A mask met a mask at the Masking : — 

Shall we say he was shy. 
Nor she to be had without asking — ? 

Was it you, was it I ? 

Out carnival dance, dear confetti 

Of laughter and light ; 
Who is this that cometh with pretty, 

Small steps in the night? 
A mask with a mask from the Masking : — 

And whom pass they by? 
One who knew not to venture in asking — ? 

Was it you, was it I? 



S8 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

{The action of the song is so arranged that 
Strength must feel himself deserted by Hap- 
piness for Dreams. At the end of the song, 
Strength goes over to the table and pours out 
wine for himself,) 

Strength. Come to me, Forgetfulness, I want 
no more thought of Happiness. Make me forget 
her, and that I ever loved her. 

Forgetfulness. Forgetfulness is here beside 
you. You shall have her. 

Strength. {Raising his glass) A toast. 

All. a toast. Listen to Strength. 

Strength. Here's to a free mind, and a lack of 
care. Here's to solitary bliss and bachelorhood. 
Good-bye to wooing reluctant Happiness, the 
selfish, the unfaithful. Here's to my new bride, 
Forgetfulness. 

All. {Draining their cups) To Forgetfulness! 

Strength. {Filling his glass again) Once 
more, and still once more. {Cries and hurrahs 
among the others) Come here Forgetfulness, I love 
only you. {He takes her in his arms and kisses her) 

Discouragement. {To Happiness) See! 

Happiness. {In great distress) I can't stand 
by and see him do these things. 

Dreams. Why should you go to him? Come 
with me. 

Happiness. Think how he watched over me. 

Strength. {Raising his glass) Once more to 
Forgetfulness. 

Happiness. {Who has crossed to him, touches 
his arm) Don't. 

Strength. Why you don't care ! 

Happiness. For your own sake. 

Strength. I lived only for you. Since you sent 
me away, what is there left? 

Happiness. We can still be friends. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 59 

Strength. It's too late. 

FoRGETFULNESS. {To STRENGTH ) Don't Hsten 
to her, Hsten to Forgetfulness. Come and sing 
once more. 

Strength. You sing, Good Time, and you, 
Forgetfulness. 

Good Time. Sing for yourself. I am too busy 
with my own good time. 

Happiness. {Suddenly) Sing, Strength, a song 
of your unforgotten thoughts. PU help you. {She 
sings " The Strong-winged day is over!' Falter- 
ingly he joins her. Overcome with emotion, he 
breaks off in the midst of the song) Don't stop. 

Forgetfulness. {To Strength) Leave her 
and come to me. You are my bridegroom and I am 
your bride. What has she brought you but misery? 
'Tis I alone who have brought you peace. 

Strength. That's true. 

Happiness. {To Strength) Don't seek For- 
getfulness. Be strong. 

Strength. I will, Happiness. 

Forgetfulness. You can't, you belong to me. 

Strength. {To Happiness) You hear what 
she says. 

Happiness. I thought that you alone in all this 
world would prove true. And now you too have 
failed me. What is there left? 

Good Time. {To Celebrity) Drown out these 
sounds with music. 

Avarice. Let us dance and be merry. 

Career. Let us say good-bye to Happiness for- 
ever, and make the most of Career and Money. 
{All raise their glasses, drain them amid cries, and 
begin throwing streamers of confetti) 

All. {Amid the showers of confetti) Good-bye, 
Happiness. 

Strength. {In anguish) Good-bye, Happiness. 



6o THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Happiness. False, false all of you, even 
Strength. 

Discouragement. Take Dreams and go with 
him. 

Happiness. {To Dreams) Take me away. 

Celebrity. Sing all of you, sing. {He plays 
'' The Drinking Song!' All sing. Discouragement 
and Dreams bear off Happiness to the left. 
Strength starts after them) 

Forgetfulness. {Detaining Strength) You 
can't go after her now. You must pay the price of 
your forgetfulness. 

The curtain falls 



scene VII 

THE FIELDS OF HUNGER 

{The divided curtains show the Fields of Hunger. 
Night. Happiness, Discouragement, and 
Dreams enter right.) 

Happiness. I can go no farther. 

Discouragement. Yes, give up: there's no use 
going on. 

Dreams. Just a little farther. We'll soon come 
to shelter. 

Happiness. There is no shelter on the Fields of 
Hunger, save what Strength can procure. And I 
have sent him away ! 

Dreams. {Seeking to beguile her weariness) 
There is joy left. Look up to the everlasting stars. 
See how brightly they glitter on the highlands of 
the world. 

Happiness. {Drawing her cloak about her) 
I am cold. The air is so keen. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 6i 

Dreams. It is the harps of the winds playing 
among the pines of the mountains and the great 
rocks of the cHflfs — Hear how the stretched golden 
chords sing over the world in the glory of this 
night ! 

Happiness. I am cold and hungry. 

Dreams. Hark, don't you hear the music? It 
lifts on great waves. It swings through the Universe. 
Ah, dear, open your eyes and see, and your ears 
and hear. 

Discouragement. Song is futile and beauty is 
vain. {To Happiness) Give up your Dreams. 

Happiness. I have nobody left but him now. 
If he should leave, I should have only you. We 
should both perish on this stony field. 

Desperation. {Emerging from the center back] 
And like you are to perish as it is ! 

Happiness. {In terror) Save me, Dreams. 

Dreams. {With Happiness in his arms — awed) 
What dreadful being is that? 

Discouragement. It is my twin-fellow, Despera- 
tion. 

Happiness. Go, go away from me. I don't want 
to^see you. Your eyes stare at me with madness. 
You uproot my will and fill me with desperate im- 
aginings. Go from me, Desperation. 

Desperation. {In a slow and measured tone) 
I cannot go from you until you have strength 
enough to drive me away. Ten fold ten times 
stronger am I than Discouragement : yet you have 
let her trail at your skirts, and have not driven 
her forth. You have made her your companion. 
Now am / here, her twin-fellow, to dog you. 

Dreams. You are only a figment of the imagina- 
tion — tragic, grotesque, a joke. You are nothing, 
Desperation. 

Desperation. {With menace) Yet you fear 
me, and you will fear my leader even more. 



62 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Happiness. Who is he? 

Desperation. (Drawing aside the curtain) Be- 
hold my master, Hunger! 

(Hunger, a Castilian Lord, after Velasquez, strides 
upon the stage with his drazvn rapier.) 

Hunger. I am the lord of Desperation. My 
piercing sword enslaves the world. Have you not 
heard of the pangs of Hunger? (He hinges at 
Dreams and Happiness) Now you feel them. 
Now and now. Soon you shall yield to my great 
captain — {He raises his sword in salute) the uncon- 
querable victor. Death. 

Desperation. {To Hunger) Shall I show 
him? 

Hunger. Our captain comes to all, whether 
summoned or not. 

Happiness. {Wildly) I don't want to see him. 
I am afraid. 

Hunger. You cannot see him, yet he is beside 
you. As you walk through life he walks with you, 
closer to you than your very shadow, growing with 
you day by day, keeping step with your step, over- 
taking you at last as he overtakes everything that 
has been lifted into quivering life — silencer of all 
breath and sunderer of souls — Death ! 

(Death meantime has appeared left, a hooded 
figure with neither face nor hands showing. 
There is a grayish black gauze over his face, 
and he wears a black iron crown.) 

Death. {To Happiness) Happiness, prepare — 
prepare to meet the great and the utter void beyond. 
There no Dreams pierce through to trouble the 
sleeping heart, and Strength does not avail to stir 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 63 

the unflattering vestments of clay. Come. {He 
holds out his arms from which the black folds 
hang) Come to my arms, and from all your weari- 
ness and your broken heart, I will give you rest. 

Happiness. I dread you, I fear you. Death. 
Though Hunger pierce me with his dread sharp 
sword, and Desperation dog my steps, the life of 
this air is sweet to me. I don't want you. Death. 

Death. Yet, sooner or later come to me you 
must as all men come. I wait for you. 

Desperation. Why should you struggle? 

Death. (To Hunger) Do your office. 

Hunger. {Lunging at Happiness and Dreams) 
Do you feel how my pangs shoot through you? 

Dreams. {In agony — to Death) Life for all 
its wrong is better than you, oh, heartless one. 

Death. I wait, I wait* 

Happiness. I will run from you. 

Discouragement. You cannot, you have no 
Strength. 

(Temptation enters center hack — a woman with 
a silver spangled dress deeply scalloped and not 
quite reaching her ankles. She zvears three 
large ostrich plumes for a head-dress.) 

Happiness. {Crying out) Is there no escape? 

Discouragement. None 

Temptation. / offer you escape. 

Dreams. You ! — 

Temptation. Yes, I, Temptation, will keep you 
from Death. I have friends who are powerful. 
They will serve you if you but yield to Temptation. 

Happiness. Who are these friends of yours that 
I may see them? 

Temptation. Behold they come. Here is Pas- 
sion. 



64 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

(Passion enters made up vividly in red, in a costume 
resembling flames.) 

Passion. (Trying to take Happiness into his 
arms) Come to me. Be mine. Yield to the flames 
of my desire, and I will lave you in perfumed 
waters ; swathe your limbs in the embroidered silken 
glories of the East, each filmy scarf an artist's 
dream; and spread before you food of unimagined 
richness : peacock's brains and conserves more de- 
licious than hashish. For you shall the fountains 
play and the nightingales sing in gardens under 
the moon-smitten summer skies. 

Happiness. (Repelling him) No, no, honor 
warns me against you. You are an evil thng. You 
would cast me away like a rag. 

(Intemperance steps forzvard, a young faun, in a 
leopard skin. Grapes in his hair. Reed pipes.) 

Intemperance. (Tipsily) Listen to Intemper- 
ance. Be my friend, and you shall have wine and 
the music of Pan, and the enchantments that have 
lain this little flask since man first crushed the 
grape and found that the taste thereof made him a 
god. 

Happiness. You fill me with horror. You 
would bring me lingeringly to death. 

(Dishonesty appears — a pickpocket with a cap.) 

Dishonesty. (Sidlingly, with suspicious, restless 
movements) Then listen to me, doll, and get me 
right. They ain't nothin in bein' straight — my 
name's Dishonesty. What's the use of workin' 
when you can pick pockets and break into a house 
with your gat in your hand while they're all layin' 
asleep ; and, say, if you get wise, maybe pull some of 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 65 

the fine points of the game like bankers and the 
swell mob. No rough stufif, get me? String along 
wit me, and you'll have sensations, that's what you'll 
have. Honest, Pll plaster you wid di'mon's, so I 
will. It's a pipe. 

Happiness. No, I know you, Dishonesty, and 
what you would cost: sorrow, discovery like a 
sword above your head, degradation like an acid 
eating away all the fineness of the soul. No, no, I 
will not go with you. 

(Dreams as if unable to endure further, sinks to the 
ground.) 

Discouragement. Dreams has fainted. 

Happiness. Now I have nothing left — not even 
a friendly dream to cloak me against the cracking 
skies. 

{In the distance, faintly, is heard the song of 
Strength. ""/ Walk within the Rooms of 
Night/' The song, growing more audible and 
szveet, continues off-stage.) 

THE ROOMS OF LIFE 

I walk within the rooms of night, 
A little hand doth lead me on ; 
A little hand like j amine white, 
As if light through it shone. 

The unseen cherubim sing low 
With fluttering wings before my face; 
And unborn souls move to and fro, ^ 
And fill my heart with grace. 

Nor sea nor land, nor sky nor air, 
Nor golden star, nor coffin clod. 



66 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

But God in all and everywhere. 
And I myself in God. 

A little hand of jasmine snow 
Doth lead me on, from height to height ; 
Through w^oman's love, from all below 
Into the Room of Light. 

Death. {As the song begins) Then you must 
come to me. 

All. (In a monrnfid wail) Yes, you must go 
with Death. 

Happiness. (To them — with dignity) If I 
must, but not w^ith you. 

Desperation. (Sharply) Not so proudly — like 
a conqueror — there is no victory here for you. Be- 
fore Death carries you away in his earth-encircling 
arms, you must know the bitterness of Defeat. 

{As Defeat appears before Happiness, she sinks 
to her knees. He is a Roman soldier, zvith 
helmet, shield, and broken sword.) 

Defeat. (Standing above her with his broken 
szvord) I am Defeat, the wreck and ruin of all 
your thoughts and hours. I am the last, last, depth 
to which you can go, even lower than Death. Be- 
fore he gathers you up, you must submit to me. 

Happiness. Very well then, I do submit to you. 
I am defeated, but out of my Defeat I yet shall 
wring victory. Love was offered me, love the 
justification of this unhappy world, and I spurned 
it, oh fool, fool that I was ! Now at the very end 
I know how true love was, and how it alone can 
save ; and before I go down into the veiling stillness 
these words will I speak to love. (To the accom- 
paniment of music she speaks the words of '' The 
night!') 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 67 

THE NIGHT. 

The night is as deep as a fathomless sea, 
The stars are few and their Hght is pale, 
But there's light in thy love, I shall not fail 
If I think of thee. 

There's a gleam in my life like the evening star, 
A pure sweet light when I think of thee. 
Alas ! thou art like a star to me. 
That I gaze on afar. 

Happiness. (At the end of the recitative) Now 
Death, I am ready. 

Death. Come. {Slowly, with bowed head she 
moves tozvards his outstretched arms) 

Strength. (Appearing at the end of his song) 
No, not while she has Strength. Go from her. 
Death. By true love have I been called to her 
side, and here please God I shall remain, (He 
speaks to Happiness) Bid them one and all de- 
part. 

Happiness. I am not strong enough. 

Strength. I am beside you. 

Happiness. But you left me. 

Strength. Even as you left me. Now we shall 
never part again. (Indicating the others) Now 
bid them go. 

Happiness. (Like a queen) Discouragement, 
you have veiled my eyes with clouds of blue. I 
will no longer abide with you. Depart. 

(Discouragement goes off-stage.) 

Strength. And the others. 

Happiness. Desperation, oh evil twin of an evil 
sister, go away. Go. Go ! and all ye others, now 
that Desperation has left me, I no longer fear you. 
Hunger, I shall yet be satisfied with food. Tempta- 
tion, if I did not yield to you in weakness, I will 



68 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

not in strength. And you poor fustian Passion and 
Intemperance and Dishonesty, unhappy souls, go, go, 
from me, — Defeat, in knowing you, and admitting 
my defeat, I have won the greatest victory of all, 
which will free me from the pangs of Death. (One 
by one, as if melting away like mists, the figures 
vanish. Strength and Happiness and Dreams 
are left. To Strength) Your love has saved me. 

Strength. (Kissing her hand) And your love 
has redeemed me. 

Dreams. (Who has revived during the fore- 
going) Will you drive me away, too? 

Happiness. Ah, dear Dreams, we have walked 
together this many a day. What Dreams could do 
for me, you have done ; but when grim Death stood 
over me, you could not help me. 

Dreams. Then I too must leave? 

Strength. (To Happiness — -gently) Let him 
come with us. 

Happiness. (To Strength) Take me home. 

The curtain falls 



scene VIII 

THE HOME OF HAPPINESS 

Hope. (Coming from between the divided cur- 
tains) I am the spirit of Hope, not False Hope 
which lures men on with dreams and expectancies 
of what can never be, but true hope which sends a 
light down the beckoning darkness, and builds a fire 
on the frozen plains against the encompassing 
wolves. With hope men create victory out of the 
impossible. With hope they endure toils and stripes 
and the gallows and the stake that their souls may 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 69 

shine like golden lamps in the dark valleys of 
humanity. With hope of a better day, they con- 
quer worry and fear and the anguish of loss, and 
build a dream to overcome inevitable Death. 

V/inter comes to every soul — to some in the 
budding spring, and chills to death the many-colored 
blossoms of promise ; to some in the summer of 
brilliant fruit and vivid plumage flashing in the light 
amid ecstatc song; to some in the mellow-drooping 
autumn of fulfillment, and with its gathered white- 
ness, leaves — what? Nothingness? — or Infinity? 

Yet shall the lilacs blossom, and the orioles re- 
turn, and upon the snow-patched hills, February's 
child the snow-drop, and the later trillium and 
toothwort and the delicate arbutus, sending up its 
snare of perfume, declare that wonders shall never 
cease; that life, the fair one, the miraculous, the 
darling, shall yet go on, eon after eon; that con- 
solation awaiteth all men; and that there is happi- 
ness upon the sea-rimmed world. 

Hope is the urge of life, the longing for a better 
good, for the attainable unfulfilled. Though life 
take its toll from all, while a man has hope he can 
pay cheerfully. 

In hope Happiness has turned to Strength, for- 
saking the tender Dreams that did not avail her 
against the sternness of realities. Hope leads her 
steps homeward. Hope will give her a work to do 
nearer home where loyality shall be like the shadow 
of a seraph's wing above her dwelling. And in later 
years when silver shall have touched her brow, 
and her renewing youth shall pass on with radiance 
to her children, Hope for the happiness of her 
daughters will still reign, in the memory of all that 
she has been, like unforgotten music in her heart of 
hearts. {She goes off-stage) 

{The curtains divide showing the Father and 



70 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

Mother of Happiness somezvhat older, seated 
on a settee at the right of the center of the 
stage. His hand is upon hers.) 

Mother of Happiness. Don't grieve, Father. 

Father of Happiness. (Acquiescing) I won't. 

Mother of Happiness. (Herself yielding to 
sorrozv) But only to see Happiness once more be- 
fore the night closes and it is time to rest. 

Father of Happiness. (Trying to be cheer- 
ful) You're a nice consolder, you are. You re- 
mind me of Zeke Clark in the market town. Old 
Zeke goes round saying, " Cheer up." And then he 
button-holes you and tells you there's a blight on the 
wheat, and the cholera's among the hogs, and 
widows and orphans on the increase, and the whole 
country going to the dogs ! 

(Outside the quartet softly begin to sing ''Sere- 
nade,'' as if they were passing the house. 
The song after a few moments fades into the 
distance.) 

Mother of Happiness. I never hear that song 
that I don't think of her innocence: how she went 
forth from home like snow-pure maidenhood it- 
self. 

Father of Happiness. And I, of the strong wil- 
fulness that would not let her see that here was the 
resting place of her heart. 

Mother of Happiness. If youth would only 
learn from age ! 

Father of Happiness. Wisdom is won with 
tears. How sad God must be at the endlessly re- 
peated follies of humanity. 

(At the back appears Friendliness, a charming 
little old gentleman with a seamed kindly face 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 71 

and iron-gray hair growing to his shoulders. 
His costuiue and appearance resemble that of 
Franz Liszt, although he is much smaller. 
He wears a long black coat and black gaiters, 
and carries a violin case.) 

Friendliness. {Pleasantly, at the back) Am I 
intruding ? 

Father of Happiness. {Heartily) No, no, 
Friendliness. By all means come in. 

Mother of Happiness. Our door is always open 
to Friendliness. 

Friendliness. {Bustling in — and rallying them) 
I thought I might be interrupting a courtship. 
{He sits down left of center — with exquisite cheer- 
fulness) The troubles IVe had this day — 
the church organ wheezing and the choir girls 
giggling. {Seriously) In the most solemn part of 
the oratorio — the very most solemn part, I assure 
you — {Benignly) Really I was quite furious. 
And little Tommy Smith trying to play his violin 
without tuning, and his mother, that young snipe 
of a widow Smith, insisting that he was right and 
that I was wrong, detestable female ! 

Father of Happiness. You know you're fond of 
her. 

Friendliness. Of course Fm fond of her. She 
has very nice red cheeks, and I taught her to sing 
and she sings well, and I played at her wedding, 
and I am trying to find her another husband, and 
she's a very lovely little person^ — but all the same 
she's a detestable female. 

Mother of Happiness. Oh, Friendliness, will 
you never grow old ! 

Friendliness. Shall I tell you a secret? {In 
confidence) When I looked into the mirror this 
morning, what do you think I saw? 

Mother of Happiness. {Smilingly) What? 

Friendliness. One gray hair. 



^2 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

(Outside are heard the voices of Gossip and In- 
fluential Citizen.) 

Gossip. {Loudly off-stage) You know they do 
say. 

Influential Citizen. (Off-stage) Don't take 
no stock in it. (Their voices blend) 

Friendliness. (With comical appeal) Gossip 
and Influential Citizen. (He turns round and round 
as if hunting cover) Dear me, dear me, where shall 
I hide? (Reseechingly to Father of Happiness) 
You won't let Gossip bite my head ofif, will you? 
(To Mother of Happiness) When Influential 
Citizen says he " don't take no stock in music," I 
feel like hiding in my own violin case. 

(Enter Gossip and Influential Citizen at the 
back.) 

Gossip. Ah, good afternoon. 

Influentil Citizen. Howdy everybody. 

Father of Happiness. Won't you be seated? 

Gossip. No, thank you. I've just heard a piece 
of news that I'm simply dying to tell you. Simply 
dying. 

Friendliness. (In a much-tried tone) Oh, 
Gossip, you will never die. 

Gossip. (Haughtily to him) I wasn't speaking 
to you. 

Friendliness. But you will speak about me, 
heaven help me. 

Gossip. (Bursting with news) Do you know 
what they say ? That Dreams went bankrupt in the 
city. 

(Friendliness starts.) 
Father of Happiness. I feared as much! 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 73 

Influential Citizen. Artist. Ugh! Poof! 
(Snapping his fingers) That's what his art 
amounted to! — Ran around with a hoyden called 
Good Time, who duped him and threw him over. 

(Father and Mother of Happiness are un- 
pleasantly affected but say nothing.) 

Friendlness. Well, that's no great wonder. 
Now you wouldn't think to look at me that I am 
what the French call " an eater of hearts " — yet I 
have been the victim of one woman after another 
all my life long. (Chuckling) And very delightful, 
too, it has been. 

Gossip. Always making light of things, aren't 
you ? What do you say to this : Strength has taken 
to drink. 

Friendliness. Do you mean that he has taken to 
drink or taken a drink ? 

Influential Citizen. Well Strength and 
Dreams didn't amount to nuthin'. I said they 
wouldn't. 

Mother of Happiness. Don't say any more, 
Fm afraid you'll speak about my child. 

Gossip. (Hypocritically) But how could we 
speak about Happiness ? Such a lovely girl ! 

Father of Happiness. (Turning to Mother) 
Don't be distressed. 

Gossip. (In an undertone to Influential 
Citizen) Dear child, indeed ! The way she carried 
on with Career and Money ! Dear child ! The tales 
they tell about her and — well, you know who I 
mean. I'm simply aching to tell them, but I'm 
afraid. 

Influential Citizen. I'm not. (Turning to 
the others) This is where the pianny and music and 
all that rot has led your daughter to, eh? You 
ought to've had better sense. Should a stayed tu 



74 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

home where she belonged. Gone to rack and ruin 
all of 'em. 

Mother of Happiness. Did you say all ? 

Influential Citizen. (With a snap) Yes. 

Father of Happiness. (With difficulty) My 
daughter, too? 

Gossip. (Weeping hypocritically) Yes Happi- 
ness too, poor child. 

Friendliness. (To Gossip) Quit your boo- 
hooing, you crocodile. 

Influential Citizen. Well, it's true. Last I 
heerd of Happiness, she was dying on the Fields of 
Hunger. 

Mother of Happiness. (Distraught) Dying! 

Father of Happiness. (Overcome) No! 

Influential Citizen. Maybe dead now for all 
I know. 

Mother of Happiness. (Weeping in father's 
arms) My little girl. 

Friendliness. I don't believe it. (Hope and 
Patience enter at the back. Patience is a young 
lovely girl in a white graduation dress) See, here 
are Hope and Patience. (To Hope) Tell them that 
Happiness is still living and well. 

Hope. She is, dear Friendliness. 

Friendliness. I love you for that, dear Hope! 
(He takes her impulsively in his arms and kisses 
her) 

Patience. In fact, she's coming home. 

Friendliness. (Believing it too good to be true) 
Coming ho — ho — home ! (He precipitately releases 
Hope and takes Patience into his arms) I love 
you for that, dear Patience ! (He kisses her — then 
he turns triumphantly to Father and Mother of 
Happiness) See, what did I tell you! 

Gossip. Tain't true. 

Influential Citizen. Don't believe a word uv 
it. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 75 

Patience. You needn't; but if you wait a little 
while you will see her with your own eyes. 

Hope. She's on her way here now. 

Mother of Happiness. {Hardly daring to be- 
lieve) Are you sure? 

Father of Happiness. Don't tell us good news 
if it's not true. 

Hope. She will soon be here. 

Mother of Happiness. (In an agony of sus- 
pense) Happiness! 

Patience. (Throwing back the curtain) Here 
she is now. 

(Strength and Happiness enter followed by 
Dreams who lags behind.) 

Happiness. Mother ! 
Mother. My dear. 

(The girl goes to her mother's outstretched arms.) 

Friendliness. (With a sitspicious cough — to the 
Father of Happiness) What the devil are you 
snivelling about ! 

Influential Citizen. (To Strength) So 
you're home at last, eh? 'Bout time. 

Gossip. (To Dreams — hypocritically) And you, 
too, Dreams, how well you look ! (In an under- 
tone) He looks like a scarecrow! 

Influential Citizen. (Sarcastically) So 
you've been successful in the city, eh? 

Strength. Yes, thank you. 

Influential Citizen. Successful ! You with 
your improvements and your water supplies and 
your playgrounds and your singing club, I don't 
take no stock in 'em. VVhy don't you stay tu home 
and behave yourself ? 

Gossip. (Hypocritically) I've heard the sweetest 



76 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

stories about you three young people, how fine and 
devoted you were. 

Strength. If I did not know how bitter and 
narrow your lives were, I could almost find it in 
my heart to hate you. You, Influential Citizen, 
would have rejoiced to see me come back in rags. 

Influential Citizen. (Threateningly) You 
know who you're talking to? 

Strength. And you, Gossip, biting your fingers 
with disappointment because you have no wicked tale 
to tell, and uttering sugared words at the heart of 
each one of which lies coiled a little serpent! 

Gossip. Why you — you — (She breaks off speech- 
less) 

Friendliness. For the first time in her life 
words fail Gossip. 

Gossip. (Baring her teeth) Do they? Do they? 
Much he's got to talk about, the way he ran after 
Good Time. 

Dreams. (Generously) It was I who ran after 
her, not Strength. 

Influential Citizen. Then it was somebody 
else he run after. 

Strength. (Simply) Happiness has promised 
to be my wife. And now go all of you. I'm afraid 
I cannot do much work with you here, but at least 
I can work against you and your influence to make 
this town worthy of Happiness. 

Influential Citizen. (Snarling, as he turns to 
go — to Father of Happiness) He's no good, 
never was, never will be. (To Dreams) No more 
than you. 

Gossip. And as for Happiness, you know why 
she come home, she just had to. 

Father of Happiness. (Angered^ What! 

Friendliness. (He advances upon Influential 
Citizen who retreats in trepidation, with Gossip be- 
fore him) You wall-eyed shark! 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS ^^ 

Influential Citizen. (Holding his crooked 
elbow above his face and going backward) You 
let me alone. FIl have the law on you, I will. 

Gossip. Me, too, you fiddle-scraper. (They 
harry off) 

Friendliness. (Benignly as they go off-stage) 
That's just exactly what I am. 

Mother of Happiness. (To Happiness) Til 
get your room ready, dear, and then we'll talk every- 
thing over. 

Father of Happiness. I'll return soon from the 
fields. (He kisses Happiness gently) We'll try to 
make you happy. 

(The quartet approaching sing ''Serenade^' which 
continues as an accompaniment till the end.) 

Friendliness. We are all most truly glad to see 
you again, Happiness, dear child. 

Patience. How good it will be to have you back 
with us. 

Hope. You will make many others happy, and 
in that way you too will be happy. Patience and 
Hope will be your friends, as you walk like a radiant 
and beloved sister among us. Welcome home. 
(She goes out with Patience) 

Friendliness. (Getting ready to go — to Happi- 
ness) Aren't you glad you're back? 

Happiness. Won't they say I'm a failure? 

Friendliness. I have learned, my dear, not to 
be distressed by what ** they " say. You tried and 
you did well, and destiny is destiny. (Gently 
reminiscent) When I was young, I thought that 
I too might find a covering for myself in some 
corner of the giant robe of Beethoven. But there 
are little rills and mighty torrents ; there is the 
beauty of the cloud-challenging sequoia and of the 
tiny hepatica, half-hidden in the fallen leaves of 



78 THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 

last autumn. We are what we are. Let us live 
loyally while we live — remembering that wherever 
there are human hearts, there is the possibility of 
Paradise. 

Happiness. Dear Friendliness. {She bows her 
head, and he kisses her upon the brow) 

Friendliness. (Speaking to Strength lightly 
to hide his feeling) Fm not what the French call 
an " eater of hearts," but if I were say forty years 
younger — ! (Strength shakes his hands grate- 
fully. To Dreams) Come to see me. I have some 
new etchings that might interest you. 

Dreams. (With feeling) Thank you. Friendli- 
ness. I shall drop in before I leave. 

Friendliness. (With a keen look at him) Go- 
ing? (Dreams nods) I see. We'll say good-bye 
later. (He pats him gently on the shoulder — then 
clearing his throat, he takes his leave humming 
'^ There was an old man, and he had a wooden 
leg.") 

Happiness. (Softly to Dreams) Don't be 
downcast, Dreams. 

Dreams. (Trying to conceal the depth of his 
feeling) I? Downcast? with the whole world be- 
fore me? 

Strength. Won't you stay, and help us work 
out our destinies here? 

Dreams. That is your work. Strength. I belong 
there in the city, with its flare of brassy music; its 
blazing selfishness ; its tumult and its strife. 

Strength. It means a long struggle: pain and 
loneliness, hunger, and separation from Happiness. 

Dreams. It will not be the first time. I am the 
better prepared. (He then hands Happiness a 
rose) When little children are playing at your 
knees think of the Dreams that accompanied your 
girlhood. 

Strength. Good-bye, Dreams. 



THE QUEST FOR HAPPINESS 79 
(Dreams turns to go.) 

Happiness. (To Strength, indicating that she 
desires to kiss Dreams) Do you mind? (In 
answer, Strength steps aside gently. Happiness 
kisses Dreams) 

Dreams. I shall never forget. (He goes out) 

(Happiness turns to Strength. He holds out his 
arms, and zvithout a word she goes to him, as 
amid the harmonies of the song, 

The curtain falls 

END OF THE PLAY 



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